Pharmacy-related matters concerning other interested parties
- Published: December 7, 2020
- Last updated: December 7, 2020
There are several parts and aspects of dispensing pharmacies that falls under the governance of other authorities’ regulatory frameworks. There are also certain organisations with special interests affecting the pharmaceutical sector and pharmacy practice.
Authorities
The National Board of Health and Welfare
Pharmacies are considered to be healthcare providers by law and must therefore follow certain rules set by Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare. The National Board of Health and Welfare is also the authority responsible for issuing certain healthcare practitioner licences - pharmacists among them.
The Health and Social Care Inspectorate (IVO)
The IVO is responsible for overseeing healthcare and healthcare practitioners. Pharmacies and pharmacy staff are therefore subject to supervision by the IVO. The IVO is also the authority that deals with the reports that healthcare providers are required to submit according to Sweden’s ‘Lex Maria’ law.
The Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV)
The Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) is the authority that decides which pharmaceutical products, medical devices or dental care procedures shall be subsidized by the state. TLV also determine retail margins for pharmacies in Sweden, regulate the substitution of medicines and supervise certain areas of the pharmaceutical market.
The Swedish eHealth Agency
The Swedish eHealth Agency owns, manages and has responsibility for a considerable number of IT systems and eHealth services which together provide a basic infrastructure underpinning Sweden’s health care services. For example, when a doctor issues an electronic prescription in Sweden (99% of all prescriptions in the country are electronic), this will be sent to the eHealth Agency. The pharmacy can then access the electronic prescription and dispense the medicinal product to their customer.
Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY)
The Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY) endeavours to ensure that everyone handling personal information does so in a correct, lawful and responsible manner – among other things by ensuring that the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are observed.
Swedish Competition Authority
The Swedish Competition Authority has the task of getting private and public-sector practice to work towards healthy competition for the benefit of consumers.
Swedish Food Agency
It is not uncommon for pharmacies to sell food products such as food supplements, in which case rules for which the Swedish Food Agency is responsible shall apply.
Swedish Board of Agriculture
The Swedish Board of Agriculture issues licences for animal health staff, among other things.
Other organisations
Läkemedelsindustriföreningen
Läkemedelsindustriföreningen (LIF) is the trade association for the research-based pharmaceutical industry in Sweden. LIF produces the database ‘Fass’ (Farmaceutiska Specialiteter i Sverige – Pharmaceutical Specialties in Sweden).
Swedish Pharmacy Association (Sveriges Apoteksförening)
The Swedish Pharmacy Association is a trade association for pharmacy owners in Sweden.