Sale of Medicines at Petrol Stations: Why the Ministry of Health Initiative Has Faced Criticism.

Doubts About Selling Medicines at Petrol Stations

According to ТСН: The idea of selling medicinal products at petrol stations raises numerous questions regarding safety and the potential decrease in prices.

Liamets emphasized that the arguments of supporters of this initiative are focused on convenience for consumers. However, the reality is that prices at petrol stations are always higher than in regular pharmacies. In his opinion, this calls into question the possibility of lowering drug prices in the new sales format.

The journalist also pointed out the issue of quality control of medicinal products. He noted that Ukraine already has weak mechanisms for controlling the circulation of medicines, and selling them at petrol stations will complicate the inspection of storage conditions and compliance with standards.

Liamets is also skeptical about the procedure for approving this initiative. He stressed that there is no public discussion, as well as positions from the pharmaceutical community and reactions from the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada. In his opinion, such decisions, especially made before holidays, can pose risks to the health and safety of citizens and require open professional discussion.

It is worth reminding that earlier the Ministry of Health of Ukraine announced changes that would expand the list of places for selling over-the-counter medicines, including petrol stations.

The discussion of the initiative regarding the sale of medicinal products at petrol stations continues, as it is important to find a balance between the accessibility of medicines and their safety given the significant risks. The further fate of this initiative and whether it will be implemented depends on the active involvement of society and specialists in the discussion.