Dozens of photos of queues in pharmacies throughout Ukraine

have been published on the Internet since morning

.

People stand on the streets and

buy everything in a row for stock

.

The reason for such a stir is allegedly the sale of drugs only by prescription from April 1.

However

, the only thing that will change from tomorrow is that the prescription will be available electronically

.

TSN.ua

explains why there is no need to run for medicine.

Buchi resident Iryna

left the pharmacy with a package of medicines

.

She waited in line and saved up 400 hryvnias.

The woman says she is excited that the drugs will be sold by prescription. 

"I ordered some, they're not even available anymore. I bought alcohol for cough. I read that they won't sell it without a prescription either. I don't know if it's true. I don't even know what to buy. I also took blood thinners, acetylsalicylic acid. I ordered allergy medicine," Iryna shows her purchases.

She agrees that some drugs should be available only by prescription, but not so many, the woman adds.

Iryna regrets that

you can't buy all the drugs in advance

so you don't have to go to the doctor.

"First of all, it's somehow unexpected and sharp, everything is so strict. Second, taking into account the fact that now a lot of doctors have left... We, for example, still have to somehow get to the district doctor. If I have some sharp severe pain? What should I do if this medicine comes with a prescription?"

- says the woman.

The woman bought medicine to spare / Photo: TSN.ua

Pharmacists reassure that, for the time being, medicines will be sold as before

The pharmacist in the pharmacy reassures people, saying that nothing will change from tomorrow,

they will continue to sell medicines without prescriptions.

In the second pharmacy they say the same

.

"Tomorrow we will still work without prescriptions. Only from Monday," the pharmacist answers.

According to the employees of the pharmacies with whom

TSN.ua

spoke , a little excitement has been felt since the morning.

Almost every buyer is interested in what exactly will no longer be sold without a prescription.

Some drugs were bought in all pharmacies of the city

.

For example, "Nimesil" is nowhere to be found.

"I always took one record at a time, of course it's hard work. You can't get enough for the rest of your life. Three records aren't enough for me, give me six!"

- says a buyer in another pharmacy.

Queue at the pharmacy / Photo: TSN.ua

What will change from April 1

The Ministry of Health reported that starting in April,

prescription drugs can be obtained in the pharmacy not only by paper, but also by electronic prescription

.

The Ministry of Health

did NOT change the list of

prescription drugs.

About 60% of medicines registered in Ukraine are prescription drugs.

Let's emphasize that this

norm was in effect before

, but was not implemented.

No additional restrictions were introduced.

That is, from April 1, 

it will be possible to get a prescription for medicine electronically, remotely

.

For this,

you do not need to go to the hospital

, as in the case of a paper prescription, and look for a doctor.

What medications are prescription drugs?

  • antibiotics;

  • anticonvulsants;

  • hormonal drugs (including contraceptives);

  • drugs for the treatment of blood pressure, heart diseases;

  • some anthelmintic drugs;

  • some antihistamines;

  • blood thinners;

  • antidepressants, neuroleptics and relaxants;

  • steroid medicines;

  • some medicines against pain, cough, sedatives.

There is a short queue at this pharmacy / Photo: TSN.ua

How to check whether the drug is sold without a prescription

For this,

it is enough to check the instructions

of the medicine.

It contains its category, that is, the condition of release.

You can find the instructions for the desired drug in online pharmacies or on the website of the State Register of Medicinal Products of Ukraine.

For this you need:

  • Enter the name of the medicinal product

    or

    active ingredient

    in the search bar

    .

  • Open the registration certificate of the corresponding medicinal product (far left column in the table).

  • In the profile of the medicinal product, find the line

    "Conditions of dispensing"

    . 

  • If the instructions say "By prescription", a prescription

    from a doctor is required

    to dispense such a drug in a pharmacy .

    • Read also:

    • Ukraine news

    • War in Ukraine

    • News of Ukraine: video