Pharmacies, Pharma Producers Go Head-to-Head
The ongoing debate on whether over-the-counter medicines should be available at grocery stores has now generated a PR war between pharmaceutical manufacturers and the owners of pharmacy chains.
On November 3, the Pharmacists Association and the Pharmacy Association launched a joint campaign to promote the idea that the advice given by pharmacists can never be replaced by the information leaflets that come with medications, ETV reported.
The move comes on the heels of a recent study, commissioned by the State Agency of Medicines, that found that over half of Estonians would prefer OTC medicine sales to remain solely in the hands of pharmacies.
Any change in that status quo could mean a significant loss for pharmacy chains. Each year OTC medicines generate around 36 million euros in revenue.
The Association of International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers in Estonia, however, will launch a three-month counter-campaign that aims to introduce the positive aspects of selling prescription-free drugs in grocery stores.
According to Riho Tapfer, head of the association, the campaign costs around 9,000 euros, of which 6,500 will be paid to their PR agency.
Ingrid Teesalu