TY - JOUR

T1 - Rationales and arguments behind the adoption of self-selection of nonprescription medicines in Denmark

AU - Jacobsen, Solveig Nordahl

AU - Møller-Jensen, Simone Eggert

AU - Sporrong, Sofia Kälvemark

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Background: Pharmacies in Europe have undergone considerable changes in their regulation over the last decades, also regarding nonprescription medicines (NPMs). In 2001, selected NPMs were released for sale outside pharmacies in Denmark. To ensure consumer safety, it was decided that NPMs must be stored behind the counter. In 2018, an amending act came into force, which allowed self-selection of NPMs. The purpose of this study was to examine the rationales and related arguments, including their validity and relevance, behind the policy on self-selection of NPMs in Denmark. Methods: A qualitative study design, combining document analysis and individual interviews with key stakeholders, was used. Legislative documents were retrieved from the Parliaments' homepage. Interviewees were recruited through purposeful sampling. Interviews were analyzed using directed content analysis. Rationales and supporting arguments were identified, thematized and analyzed as to their validity and relevance. Results: In total, 24 stakeholders (including political parties) were represented in the documents, whereof 7 were interviewed. Ten supported the new policy and 13 were against; 1 was on both sides. Six rationales and 9 supportive arguments were found. The advocates' main rationale was increased accessibility and arguments related to freedom of choice and discretion. The opponents' main rationale for not adopting the policy was consumer safety and arguments related to perception of NPMs and counseling. The validity and relevance were questionable in both advocates' and opponents' arguments, yet slightly better in the case of the opponents'. Although not mentioned in the documents, economic interests were probably behind some stakeholders' position. Conclusion: The formal rationale behind the adoption of self-selection of NPMs was increased accessibility. However, bearing in mind the rationales and their supporting arguments, economic interests and previous changes within the sector, it could be argued that an underlying rationale behind adopting the policy was to liberalize the Danish pharmacy sector even further.

AB - Background: Pharmacies in Europe have undergone considerable changes in their regulation over the last decades, also regarding nonprescription medicines (NPMs). In 2001, selected NPMs were released for sale outside pharmacies in Denmark. To ensure consumer safety, it was decided that NPMs must be stored behind the counter. In 2018, an amending act came into force, which allowed self-selection of NPMs. The purpose of this study was to examine the rationales and related arguments, including their validity and relevance, behind the policy on self-selection of NPMs in Denmark. Methods: A qualitative study design, combining document analysis and individual interviews with key stakeholders, was used. Legislative documents were retrieved from the Parliaments' homepage. Interviewees were recruited through purposeful sampling. Interviews were analyzed using directed content analysis. Rationales and supporting arguments were identified, thematized and analyzed as to their validity and relevance. Results: In total, 24 stakeholders (including political parties) were represented in the documents, whereof 7 were interviewed. Ten supported the new policy and 13 were against; 1 was on both sides. Six rationales and 9 supportive arguments were found. The advocates' main rationale was increased accessibility and arguments related to freedom of choice and discretion. The opponents' main rationale for not adopting the policy was consumer safety and arguments related to perception of NPMs and counseling. The validity and relevance were questionable in both advocates' and opponents' arguments, yet slightly better in the case of the opponents'. Although not mentioned in the documents, economic interests were probably behind some stakeholders' position. Conclusion: The formal rationale behind the adoption of self-selection of NPMs was increased accessibility. However, bearing in mind the rationales and their supporting arguments, economic interests and previous changes within the sector, it could be argued that an underlying rationale behind adopting the policy was to liberalize the Danish pharmacy sector even further.

KW - Argumentation analysis

KW - Nonprescription medicine

KW - Pharmaceutical policy

KW - Pharmacy regulation

U2 - 10.1186/s40545-020-00226-2

DO - 10.1186/s40545-020-00226-2

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 32670593

AN - SCOPUS:85088628524

VL - 13

JO - Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice

JF - Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice

SN - 2052-3211

IS - 1

M1 - 29

ER -