Government postpones introduction of mandatory sale of medicines by prescription for 12 months
28.06.2018,
15:39
The government of Armenia decided today to postpone for one year the introduction of the mandatory sale of medicines by prescription until July 1, 2019.
YEREVAN, June 28. /ARKA/. The government of Armenia decided today to postpone for one year the introduction of the mandatory sale of medicines by prescription until July 1, 2019.
Under a government decision, passed in late 2017, out of 4,700 medicines registered in the country some 2,700 were to be sold by prescription only. Starting from March 1, antibiotics, hormonal and codeine-containing medicines were sold by prescription only, starting from July 1, the list was to be added by all injections and oncological medicines, and starting from October 1 - all other medicines , specified by a special decision of the government, approved last November.
Health minister Arsen Torosyan said today that the postponement decision was prompted by the requests of citizens and public organizations. He said the postponement does not apply to narcotic and psychotropic drugs and antibiotics.
According to him, all problems and risks that may arise after the introduction of the mandatory sale of medicines by prescription only will be analyzed by the end of the year. He noted that antibiotics will continue to be sold by prescription, as their uncontrolled use leads to serious challenges for the health care system.
He also asked the prime minister to tighten the procedure for prescribing antibiotics, as there are signals that their sale without prescriptions continues.
The minister said public discussions will also be held to take into account all concerns and eventually create a system that will avoid inappropriate and incorrect use of medicines, but at the same time will not become an obstacle for seeking medical services. -0-
Under a government decision, passed in late 2017, out of 4,700 medicines registered in the country some 2,700 were to be sold by prescription only. Starting from March 1, antibiotics, hormonal and codeine-containing medicines were sold by prescription only, starting from July 1, the list was to be added by all injections and oncological medicines, and starting from October 1 - all other medicines , specified by a special decision of the government, approved last November.
Health minister Arsen Torosyan said today that the postponement decision was prompted by the requests of citizens and public organizations. He said the postponement does not apply to narcotic and psychotropic drugs and antibiotics.
According to him, all problems and risks that may arise after the introduction of the mandatory sale of medicines by prescription only will be analyzed by the end of the year. He noted that antibiotics will continue to be sold by prescription, as their uncontrolled use leads to serious challenges for the health care system.
He also asked the prime minister to tighten the procedure for prescribing antibiotics, as there are signals that their sale without prescriptions continues.
The minister said public discussions will also be held to take into account all concerns and eventually create a system that will avoid inappropriate and incorrect use of medicines, but at the same time will not become an obstacle for seeking medical services. -0-
