To cope with an explosion of poisoning, the Swedish government has decided to withdraw paracetamol-based drugs from supermarkets.
Sweden announced on Wednesday the immediate suspension of the sale of paracetamol tablets in supermarkets. This decision was motivated by the explosion (+ 40% in less than four years) of cases of intoxication linked to the excessive consumption of these drugs. This decision also reopens the debate on the importance of medical prescription.
According to Rolf Gedeborg, an expert quoted in the press release issued by the Swedish Medicines Agency, there are “good reasons to limit access to these tablets”. Indeed, the abuse of paracetamol can have disastrous consequences on the body, including the destruction of liver cells and the development of liver failure.
More easily accessible in supermarkets
If large surfaces are pointed out here, it is for the lack of supervision of the sale of paracetamol. Unlike a pharmacy, no professional is present here to guide and advise the consumer. In addition, supermarkets are often open later than pharmacies, which, according to the press release, is a danger, as drugs are more easily and for a longer time available.
On the side of the large pharmaceutical groups, this decision is of course criticized. Asked by the Swedish agency TT, a representative of the GSK group said that “the data presented is not sufficient to conclude that the sale in supermarkets is responsible for this increase. Anyway, the decision should be implemented from 1er November of this year.
The dangers of self-medication
In some countries such as the United States, many medicines available without a prescription are already on sale in supermarkets.
In France, on the other hand, things are more supervised. In December 2013, the Competition Authority issued a report favorable to the sale of certain drugs in supermarkets in order to break the monopoly of pharmacies on their sale. Marc-Edouard Leclerc, CEO of the Leclerc group, had campaigned in this direction.
In September 2014, the Minister of the Economy, Emmanuel Macron, gave in to pressure from pharmacists by rejecting the idea of an exit of these drugs from the dispensary. Professionals had rightly argued that the sale of drugs in supermarkets would lead to misuse, overconsumption and drug poisoning.
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