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 | | CHANGING LANES: THE FUTURE OF OTC DISTRIBUTION IN EUROPE | | | CHEManager Europe | | 05/09/2008 | | | Europe’s population will consume some €47 billion of over the counter (OTC) medicines, dietary supplements and remedies for minor illnesses in 2008. By 2010 the figure is expected to top €50 billion. In a forthcoming CHEManager Europe article, James Dudley, managing director of James Dudley Management, explores the changes in OTC distribution across Europe caused by the evolving de-regulation and how companies will have to adopt new business strategies.
An important trend in the processes of deregulation concerns pharmacy ownership. 86% of pharmacies in Europe are single outlet, independent owner managed, down from 91% in 2005. In 2000, Norway followed the Netherlands in changing pharmacy ownership regulations, thus enabling retail pharmacy chains to develop. Most recently the Slovakian Medicines Law was amended to permit companies to run pharmacies.
In September 2008, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) will settle the future of pharmacies in Europe. In a hearing of joint cases, the German and the Italian ban on outside ownership are to be debated. If the national regulations are overturned in Luxembourg, pharmacy laws in all other EU countries will come under scrutiny.
With the OTC market opening up non-pharmacy channels will play a pivotal role in the future distribution of OTC medication. At present, this is highly restricted across most of Europe, but changes are being made. Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and more recently Italy license non-pharmacy outlets to sell a limited range of OTC medicines under the supervision of a qualified druggist or in the case of Italy a pharmacist.
To read the full article, don’t miss issue 10 of CHEManager Europe, which will be out on Sept. 18 and packed with pre-CPhI coverage!
Contact:
Ana Wood
Managing Editor, CHEManager Europe
Tel.: +49 (0)6151 8090 255
ana.wood@wiley.com
www.chemanager-europe.com
Source: CHEManager Europe; www.chemanager-europe.com | |
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