Pharmacist: dm Pharmacy is Range Reduction
Drugstore chain dm has launched a mail-order pharmacy in the Czech Republic, shipping over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to customers in Germany. The move has already sparked legal concerns, with critics arguing the model may break German pharmaceutical laws.
The new service offers around 2,500 OTC medicines and 1,500 cosmetics, selected with the help of a consulting firm. However, many items are listed as unavailable, as dm focuses on fast-selling products. Under German law, only OTC drugs approved by the Federal Ministry of Health can be shipped from abroad.
Each German state requires a separate license for these cross-border deliveries, with local pharmacy authorities overseeing compliance. Ulrich Geltinger, a Bavarian pharmacist, claims dm’s restricted product range violates regulations that demand full supply of ordered medicines. He also argues the Czech pharmacy lacks proper licensing for prescription drugs and logistics that meet German standards.
Legal questions about dm’s approach were raised earlier by lawyer Christiane Köber. She pointed to laws preventing license holders from limiting their stock to specific manufacturers—a potential issue for dm’s curated selection.
The debate centres on whether dm’s mail-order model complies with German pharmaceutical rules. Authorities in each state must now decide if the company’s licensing and product restrictions meet legal requirements. The outcome could affect how OTC medicines are sold across borders in the future.
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