Greece’s Council of State ruled that the establishment and operation of pharmacies by non-pharmacists is constitutionally sound, provided that they operate in the form of a Limited Liability Company (LLC) and that the resident scientist is a pharmacist and a co-owner in the LLC with a 33% minimum.
The CoS ruling on Wednesday was over a legal appeal to the Presidential Degree 64/2018 that regulates the establishment of pharmacies and the conditions for practicing the profession of pharmacist.
The Presidential Decree permitted the establishment of pharmacies by natural persons non-pharmacists, under certain conditions, including the incompatibility of a pharmacy partner as who is also in the wholesale drugs business, doctor and others.
Allowing the opening of pharmacies also but non-pharmacists, that is to liberate the market and “open the closed pharmacists’ profession” was one of Greece’s lenders preconditions since the first bailout in 2010.
