RASK consults Estonian Chamber of Pharmacists and independent pharmacists in implementation of pharmacy reform.

RASK has consulted the Estonian Chamber of Pharmacists on implementing the pharmacy reform since the reform was first initiated by the Riigikogu in 2014 and 2015. After numerous attempts to cancel and amend the reform during the transition period, the pharmacy reform legislation came into force in Estonia on 1 April 2020.

RASK attorneys consulted the Estonian Chamber of Pharmacists on issues related to the establishment of a professional association and the implementation of the legal provisions constituting the pharmacy reform. In the course of the work, RASK prepared several legal opinions and analysed the constitutionality of the reform, best practices in other European countries, as well as possible problems with implementing the reform.

In addition, RASK attorneys consulted individual pharmacists owning pharmacies on several issues related to the licensing of pharmacies and represented them in Supreme Court disputes. You can read more about the disputes HERE.

From 1 April 2020, all pharmacies in Estonia are required to have a pharmacist as the majority shareholder; each pharmacist may be associated with up to four pharmacies. Vertical integration is prohibited, meaning that the wholesale and retail of medicines must be separated and wholesalers and manufacturers of medicines are not allowed to hold shares in retail pharmacies.

The aim is to minimise the impact of commercial interests on pharmacy services and to reinforce the role of pharmacists when it comes to pharmaceutical advice in Estonian health care.