OTCs in Action Episode 34: One small step for French OTCs, a giant step for Greek

This week, OTCs are in Action in France, where 21 medicines have jumped over the pharmacy counter to retail shelves, where they can be selected by consumers. Famenpax homeopathic antinauseant, AsproFlash aspirin, Flustimex acetaminophen / chlorphenamine and MycoHydralin clotrimazole VYI treatments were among the brands leaping to freedom.

Earlier this year, regulators liberated Maalox Reflux (aluminum / magnesium hydroxide), as well as nicotine gums and lozenges from Nicorette and Nicotinell. To see the full list, click here: French OTCs by self-selection.

Although the move to front-of-store is a significant win for consumers, OTC sales are still restricted to pharmacies in France. This provides an interesting contrast to the recent bailout agreement which stipulates that Greece, with a similar distribution model, should go a leap further to liberate OTC from pharmacies and permit mass market sale of OTCs as part of the international economic rescue package.

For more international news, see OTC.Newsflash, published weekly by Nicholas Hall & Company every Friday.