Sweden aims to privatize pharmacies

The Swedish government intends to privatize its state pharmaceuticals retailing monopoly, Apoteket AB, in a series of moves rather than in  one fell swoop.

Under plans outlined by Health Minister Goran Hagglund, Apoteket will  remain as a key actor on a competitive market, with the majority of the  pharmacies it currently controls remaining under state ownership, while  the other premises will be sold. The transfer to new owners will be  undertaken so as to ensure that access to new medicinal products is at  least as good as it is at present.