Until 30 August 2024 this year, amendments and additions to the Slovenian Act
on Pharmacy Activity (ZLD) were open for public consultation. The Chamber
of Pharmacists of Slovenia (LZS), along with the majority of those involved
in the supply of medicines to the population, welcomes most of the proposed
changes. These amendments are the result of several years of efforts to ensure
an uninterrupted supply of high-quality medicines, to reduce challenges in
organising a continuous supply of medicines, and to improve the availability
of medicines and pharmacy services for users. Given the general shortage of
medicines and the small size of the Slovenian market, it is particularly important
to highlight the proposed Article 14a of the amendment to the ZLD,
which would permanently remove the obligation of public pharmacy institutes
to purchase medicines (and other goods intended for resale) pursuant to Public
Procurement Act (ZJN-3). The proposed amendments to the ZLD by the
Ministry of Health confirm that the procurement of medicines in public pharmacy
institutions must be appropriately regulated. This aligns with the fundamental
purpose of pharmacy activity: to provide patients with high-quality
medicines and ensure that each patient receives the correct medicine on time.
Key words: pharmacy, pharmacy activity, medicines, public procurement,
Ministry of Health.