Grocers have recently argued that allowing them to sell non-prescription drugs would improve the availability of medicines and slash prices due to the increased competition.
While the ministry refuses to make this chance, it is considering other moves to improve the availability of drugs, especially sparsely populated rural areas. For example, some shops in low-population areas might be allowed to carry prescription drugs, but only if there is someone on hand with pharmaceutical training.
The ministry will soon consider a proposal to abolish the fees that pharmacies are required to pay to the government. These are designed to level the playing field between big city chemists and rural pharmacies. While abolishing it might mean the loss of some smaller pharmacies, prices could drop by nearly ten percent.