Abstract

ELECTRONIC TRADING WITH DRUGS – TRENDS AND ASPECTS. SURVEY AMONG PHARMACISTS.

Tsvetkova*, A. Todorova, M. Arnaoudova, M. Dimitrov, E. Atanasova

ABSTRACT

The introduction of a uniform integrated information system through the development of electronic healthcare, aimed to achieve full transparency and efficient use of the available resources is one of the eight priority areas of the National Health Strategy 2014 – 2020. The building of a modern healthcare system based on the use of information and communication technologies requires a regulatory framework, which is capable of guaranteeing the rights and interests of the citizens and the other actors participating in the healthcare system. Currently, the electronic trading of drugs is permitted only for Non- prescription (Over The Counter) drugs, food additives and medical products, only for pharmacies and drugstores that hold the respective permit issued by the Bulgarian Drug Agency (BDA). The BDA webpage displays a list of entities who offer medical products for online trading. The online trading with drugs was officially launched in the beginning of 2012, when a number of pharmacies that maintained their own web pages obtained the right to sell non-prescription drugs via the Internet.

Keywords: Internet trading, pharmacists, National Health Strategy, BDA.