Estonia to Allow OTC Drug Delivery, Bars Supermarket Sales
Estonian ministries are exploring the use of courier services like Bolt Food and Wolt for over-the-counter medicine home delivery, while firmly rejecting sales in grocery stores to preserve the advisory role of licensed pharmacies.
- —Estonian ministries and the State Agency of Medicines are exploring the possibility of allowing courier delivery of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs directly from licensed pharmacies.
- —Despite considering home delivery, Estonian officials remain firm in their opposition to allowing supermarkets to sell OTC medications.
- —The proposed delivery system would involve platforms like Bolt Food and Wolt acting as additional delivery partners for existing licensed online pharmacies.
- —The Ministry of Social Affairs emphasizes that pharmacies retain an advisory role, a function that grocery stores do not fulfill, justifying the restriction on supermarket sales.
- —While some European countries permit OTC drug sales in supermarkets, Estonia currently has no plans to change its policy, which reserves such sales exclusively for pharmacies.
Recap
Estonia's decision is a calculated move to integrate the convenience of the gig economy into its healthcare system without ceding regulatory control. By authorizing delivery apps for pharmacies while blocking supermarket sales, the state is attempting to modernize consumer access while reinforcing the professional monopoly and perceived safety oversight of pharmacists. This approach co-opts new technology to preserve an established structure, balancing public demand for convenience against a conservative view of pharmaceutical regulation.