Pharmacists oppose unregulated online sales of prescription drugs

The Czech Pharmaceutical Chamber has rejected any plan to introduce unregulated online sales of prescription medicines. Delegates at its annual congress said such a system could endanger patient safety and threaten local pharmacies. The chamber’s president Aleš Krebs stressed that if remote dispensing is ever introduced, it must remain an integrated pharmacy service under professional supervision. Pharmacists pointed out that personal consultation helps prevent medication errors – a recent project detected more than 12,000 prescription mistakes in just two weeks. The chamber supports using the state-run eRecept system for online prescriptions, arguing that commercial platforms cannot guarantee data protection or professional oversight. It also called for legal recognition of vaccination in pharmacies and better support for pharmacies in small towns and rural areas.