PROSPECTS FOR GREECE'S OTC MARKET

Greece constitutes probably the most liberal self-medication market within the European Community, even though such a market does not officially exist in the country, according to Peter Hug, director of the pharmaceutical division at Roche (Hellas) Pharmaceuticals SA.

He told the OTC News self-medication conference in London last month (Marketletter April 27) that under Greek law, almost all categories of pharmaceuticals except antacids and paracetamol products are considered to be prescription-only drug products. However, in practice, all drug products can be purchased by the public over the counter, with the exception of narcotics and benzodiazepines.

Nevertheless, Greece is prevented from being a manufacturer's paradise by the fact that for each product the company has to submit an EC-conforming New Drug Application, and that it is subject to the same regulation as for prescription drugs (as this is of course the only category that officially exists.)