On Thursday, 22 October, the Latvian Parliament adopted amendments to the Pharmaceutical Law in the final reading, allowing hospitals and pharmacies, in exceptional cases, to purchase medicines from manufacturers and distributors in other European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) countries.
This will be permitted if the medicines concerned are not available in Latvia in the required quantities or within the necessary timeframe.
Previously, the law did not grant community pharmacies or hospital pharmacies the right to purchase medicines directly from other EU or EEA countries. Hospitals were required to obtain medicines from Latvian wholesale distributors.
The amendments make it possible to import unregistered medicines when necessary, subject to obtaining the relevant authorisation, and clarify the regulatory framework for direct medicine supplies from other EU countries.
The amendments also strengthen cooperation between healthcare institutions and pharmacies in situations where medicines are unavailable and reduce administrative barriers to their supply from other EU countries.
The aim of the amendments is to ensure that patients have timely access to the medicines they need, particularly when supply disruptions or medicine shortages occur in Latvia. The changes will strengthen the resilience of the healthcare system and help ensure continuity of treatment, according to the authors of the draft law at the Ministry of Health.
The Cabinet of Ministers will establish the procedures and conditions for purchasing medicines from other EU and EEA countries by 30 June 2027.
In certain circumstances, pharmacists will be allowed to dispense prescription medicines to patients without a prescription in order to prevent risks to their health and ensure continuity of treatment. This option may be used when a healthcare professional is urgently unavailable to the patient and it is not possible to obtain a prescription, including due to disruptions in the healthcare information system.
Pharmacists will be permitted to dispense only the minimum quantity of medicines allowed under the applicable regulations. The Cabinet of Ministers will establish the procedures and criteria for this practice by 30 June 2027.
Source
Saeima/Latvian Parliament Picture: https://www.flickr.com/photos/saeima/albums/72177720336153150/with/55590753163
