Buy a medical business in Poland
31.03.2023
As in Ukraine, in Poland there is a limited list of what medicines can be bought in Poland without a prescription. Over-the-counter medicines include only some of the products that can be obtained at pharmacies without a visit to the doctor. In other cases, you will have to visit the family doctor and buy drugs only in the direction from him.
Medicine quality
Medications in Poland are subject to strict control in several respects, so you will not find medicines of dubious quality in pharmacies. Local pharmacy kiosks sell drugs in accordance with international standards, Polish legislation and EU requirements.
As a member of the European Union, Poland undertakes to comply with the requirements of this organization, including when importing medicines. Therefore, you will not find counterfeit goods on pharmacy counters, as is the case in Ukraine.
Restrictive norms
It will not be possible to buy a medicine in Poland without a prescription for 80-90% of drugs sold in this country. The pharmacist has the legal right to refuse the sale of medicines to the buyer. OTC dispensing is allowed for the following categories of medicines:
- Medications for pain and inflammation – ibuprofen, paracetamol, aspirin, ketoprofen and some other analgesics;
- antiviral drugs and medicines for influenza, acute respiratory infections – teraflu, gripex, sinupret;
- cough medicines – mukosolvan, isla and some others;
- antihypertensive drugs (to lower blood pressure);
- allergy remedies;
- drugs against diarrhea, thrush, fungal diseases and some other diseases.
Exceptions
How to get a medicine without a prescription in Poland – contact registered pharmacies operating in accordance with Polish law. It is possible to buy prescription drugs from Ukrainian doctors, but this can only be done in pharmacies in large Polish cities.
Therefore, with various unpleasant symptoms, it is recommended that you first visit a Polish doctor, who, after an examination, will prescribe the necessary medicines. It is better not to self-medicate.
Peculiarities of issuing prescription forms
Prescription forms for the purchase of medicines in Poland are valid for thirty days after being issued, although the terms may vary for different drugs. There is a mark on the form, after the expiration of which it becomes invalid and is not accepted by the pharmacist. If several drugs are written on the form, then the pharmacy worker crosses them out of the list after issuance. If you need to re-purchase the crossed-out medication, a new form is issued.
Prescription drugs are dispensed in limited quantities. This means that the pharmacist dispenses only one or several packages of the drug – it will not be possible to purchase a year in advance.
Price and quality of medicines in Poland
The cost of drugs in Poland is higher compared to Ukraine, but this is due to their higher quality. Although for some groups of popular medicines (analgesics, antitussives), prices are identical to Ukrainian ones. Also, you always have the opportunity to purchase more affordable analogues of medicines in Poland, which does not affect the effectiveness of the product.
Do not forget that Ukrainians have the opportunity to return funds spent on medicines (up to 500 PLN or 4200 hryvnia). This opportunity is available to Ukrainian migrants who have registered in the Health4ukraine program.
Analogues of medicines in Poland
Like Ukrainian pharmacists, Polish pharmacy workers are interested in selling you the most expensive medicines and getting a good profit. Therefore, always ask for similar drugs from the same group. There are always a couple of well-known analogues that can be purchased cheaper.
What medicines to buy in Poland – give preference to well-known medicines that are sold all over the world. For example, painkillers based on paracetamol, which have proven effectiveness.
Buy medicine in Poland
It will not be difficult to buy medicines in Poland if you familiarize yourself with the basic rules. It is better to visit a doctor first and find out how to get a prescription for a medicine in Poland. The Polish authorities carefully regulate the distribution of medicines, especially those that contain narcotic substances and must be taken in doses.
Ukrainians will have to spend some time adjusting to the Polish rules for issuing medicines in pharmacies, which differ from Ukrainian realities. But after that, there will be no problems with obtaining the required medicines, and you can always count on their high quality.
