Changes to Prescription Requirements for Medicines in Germany
A new ordinance in Germany has altered prescription requirements for certain medications. The changes include adding new substances to the prescription-only list and making some medicines available without a prescription.
Frankfurt am Main – The German Association of Pharmacists' Associations (ABDA) has announced changes to medicine prescription requirements that took effect on January 1, 2015. The new regulation modifies which medicines require a doctor's prescription.
Forty-eight new active substances, including Avanafil, Cobicistat, and Teriflunomid, have been added to the prescription-only list. This means they can now only be dispensed with a medical prescription. Additionally, quinine, previously primarily used for malaria treatment, is now fully prescription-only. However, Limptar® N 200 mg has a three-month transition period until April 2015.
Some medications have been released from prescription requirements. For instance, Esomeprazole, used for heartburn and acid reflux, is now available without a prescription for specific dosages and durations of use. While new over-the-counter formulations are not yet on the market, Nexium Control® tablets have been available without a prescription since August 2014.
Furthermore, Ketotifen for ophthalmic use at a specific concentration and Flurbiprofen-based products for oral and throat use up to a set daily dose have become non-prescription. These also benefit from a three-month transition period until April 2015.
The ordinance also mandates that, starting July 2015, physicians must include a contact phone number on prescriptions to facilitate inquiries from pharmacies.