"Dismantling Apoteket good for consumers"
Paul O'Mahony - [email protected]
Published: 14 Feb, 2007 CET.
Updated: Wed 14 Feb 2007 14:42 CET
The Swedish Competition Authority has concluded in a report that dismantling Apoteket, Sweden's pharmaceutical retail monopoly, would be good for consumers.
A market with more than one actor would make it easier for customers to gain access to pharmacies. It would also lead to better service, for example in the form of more flexible opening hours.
"A first step would be to allow more actors to sell non-prescription medicines," said competition authority director Claes Norgren in a statement.
The report also recommends prohibiting pharmaceutical companies from opening their own pharmacies.
Apoteket AB is in an extremely strong position and the company should be required to meet certain criteria that would encourage competition.
"In order to create functioning competition it may be necessary for the state to sell a number of pharmacies," said Norgren.
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A market with more than one actor would make it easier for customers to gain access to pharmacies. It would also lead to better service, for example in the form of more flexible opening hours.
"A first step would be to allow more actors to sell non-prescription medicines," said competition authority director Claes Norgren in a statement.
The report also recommends prohibiting pharmaceutical companies from opening their own pharmacies.
Apoteket AB is in an extremely strong position and the company should be required to meet certain criteria that would encourage competition.
"In order to create functioning competition it may be necessary for the state to sell a number of pharmacies," said Norgren.
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