Health: Selling antibiotics individually, Switzerland is moving forward but takes its time

HealthSelling antibiotics individually, Switzerland is moving forward but takes its time

Reducing waste and the risk of antibiotic resistance is one of the objectives of the measure. But it will be necessary to wait before a national practice.

Rather than a box, pharmacists should be able to give patients the exact number of tablets they need.

20 minutes/Simon Glauser

Submission of the proposal: 2017. Acceptance by parliament: 2018. Small-scale tests: 2020. And now, in 2022? The Federal Council, while being in favor of the solution, declared on Wednesday that it now wanted to “examine the possibility of introducing the delivery of antibiotics individually throughout Switzerland”. According to him, outstanding issues still need to be settled, in particular legal adaptations and compensation for pharmacists. So we will still have to wait.

Let us recall the main goals. The practice is planned as part of Switzerland’s Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy. “Studies show that almost half of the packages do not coincide with the amount recommended for patients. The remaining tablets are then generally stored and sometimes used later without a prescription, ”notes the Federal Council. Wrong dosage at the wrong time: the risk increases of developing resistance and that the drugs will be less effective later on.

Uncertain savings potential

And when they are not consumed later, they are simply thrown away. Reducing waste was the priority of former national councilor Manuel Tornare (PS/GE), who tabled the motion in parliament. According to him, the measure would allow “large sums of savings for health insurance”.

However, the Federal Council is not absolutely certain. After the tests carried out in particular in Ticino and in Neuchâtel in some pharmacies, they considered that the delivery of drugs to the unit generated additional work and therefore costs. In short, what we save on waste, we lose it on the costs induced by the procedures and the workload.

Not everyone is for

The various circles concerned were consulted. Some say they are “strongly” in favor, starting with the pharmacists who are the first concerned. At the same time, the umbrella organization PharmaSuisse pointed out the importance of a “fair assessment of the additional work of the pharmacist and of remuneration accordingly.” The Swiss Patients’ Organization is also in favor. It emerged from the tests that the patients accepted the process well. Others, such as Paediatrics Switzerland, say they are opposed, citing security of supply, the cost-benefit ratio and the specific application to pediatrics.

Health: Selling antibiotics individually, Switzerland is moving forward but takes its time