For many years, you as a customer have had the opportunity to order medicines such as Paracet, fluoride tablets and nasal spray online, and then have them delivered straight to your postbox. Last year, the online pharmacy Farmasiet was refused to send over-the-counter medicines to people’s homes. The Directorate for Medical Products, formerly the Norwegian Medicines Agency, believed that the medicines could end up in the wrong hands if they are sent to an unlocked mailbox. The pharmacy took the case to court. Now the company has lost the case they brought against the state in Hordaland district court. If the judgment is upheld, all pharmacies will in practice be refused to deliver over-the-counter medicines to regular letterboxes. – Sad, says Bård Hoksrud (Frp), who believes it is high time to change the pharmacy act. More expensive medicines for customers The alternative is that in many cases customers have to pay a large extra cost for home delivery, where you have to show identification. For example, shipping costs for a box of Paracetamol will be significantly more expensive. The online company believes that the delivery methods that replace sending to a letterbox cost more, and that the consumer gets the bill. – As a small company, we have to balance being competitive, and getting our costs covered, points out Elisabeth Haug, managing director of Farmasiet. Elisabeth Haug, managing director Farmasiet. Photo: Ilja C. Hendel Wants new pharmacy law The pharmacy believes the current pharmacy law is outdated. – The pharmacy has challenged the interpretation of an old law in a new era, but did not win. If the law is not good enough, the law must be changed, Haug believes. In 2021, the Solberg government asked a committee to review the regulations relating to pharmacy operations. The committee’s report was delivered to the current government on 31 January last year. The management of the Pharmacy is now calling for progress in the work on a new pharmacy act. – The consequence is a poorer offer for consumers and reduced competition, says Haug, who believes that this particularly affects the rural areas. The pharmacy will request a clarification meeting with the authorities in the near future. They are also considering appealing the verdict from the district court, Haug tells news. – Former Storting representative Bård Hoksrud (Frp) agrees with the online pharmacy. He is second deputy chairman of the health and care committee at the Storting. The Storting politician believes the decision from the district court complicates the scheme for the pharmacy industry. – There should have been exactly the same rules when ordering online. We have good confirmation methods to ensure that the person receiving medication is actually the person who ordered it, says Hoksrud. Bård Hoksrud (Frp). Photo: Tom Balgaard/news Hoksrud also believes it is high time that the pharmacy act be changed. – The consequence of the law we have now, and the decision that the court has made, means that you have to pay more than what you actually needed for medication. He will follow up the matter with the Minister of Health. – We believe this is an old-fashioned law that should be modernized. The pharmacy committee has also been clear about this. We need good competition in this field. Working with new pharmacy law State Secretary Karl Kristian Bekeng in the Ministry of Health and Care does not want to comment on the judgment from the district court. – We note that the district court has upheld the state and that the ministry’s decision is based on a correct understanding of the legal rules, but since the judgment is not legally binding yet, I do not wish to comment on the content of the case yet. Karl Kristian Bekeng, State Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Care. Photo: Esten Borgos / Borgos Foto AS Bekeng says that the Ministry of Health and Care is working on the future pharmacy regulations. They aim to follow up on this work in 2024 and 2025.
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The pharmacy lost to the state – can no longer send Paracet in the post – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
