Drugstore market nears partial deregulation

The drugstore market in Romania could go through a partial deregulation process, as a result of a ministry order that lowers the minimum number of inhabitants serviced in Bucharest from 3,500 to 2,000. The order was issued this month and is to be published in the Official Gazette, at which time it will enforce. Part of the provisions may be changed before publication, because the representatives of the pharmaceutical industry are for maintaining the provisions on setting up drugstores as they were. A series of talks have been conducted between the representatives of the Health Ministry and the pharmaceutical retail companies. Market sources say the results of these talks will be made public soon. Besides reduction of the number of inhabitants serviced by each drugstore in Bucharest the ministry order also stipulates that a drugstore may be established for every 2,500 inhabitants in any county capital, and for every 3,000 people in other cities/towns or rural areas. ZF