Headway in talks between ministry, pharmacists

Health Minister Andreas Loverdos has reportedly reached an agreement with representatives of Athens pharmacists during a meeting to discuss issues concerning the “opening” of the profession, before a relevant health ministry-sponsored draft law is tabled in Parliament next month, it was announced on Wednesday.

Specifically, sector representatives agreed to the “opening” up of profession to new pharmacists and to co-ownership schemes in existing pharmacies, thus preventing any further increase of the already huge number of pharmacies. They also agreed that a scale system of rebates (money returned to insurance funds from the pharmacies) will be effective for sales above a 3,000-4,000-euro threshold.

The two sides reached no agreement on the issue of opening hours on Saturdays. However, they agreed that it will be settled within the next couple of weeks.