THE FREE SALE OF OPTIONAL FAMILY PRESCRIPTION PRODUCTS: A FREEDOM TO WATCH CLOSELY

Abstract

Free sale of OTC products remains an act whose supervision
by the pharmaceutical monopoly is discussed, but necessary
to ensure the protection of the “consumer patient” who does
not have the competence of a health professional. The risks
of self-medication related to the inappropriate use of the
product require a monitoring of the terms and conditions
of acquisition of the product by a consumer, who is often
poorly or badly informed about the risks of the drug. The
risks associated with self-medication explain the need to
maintain the conditions and methods of access by the patient
to the over-the-counter product as a precaution in the name
of the protection of public health, a concept around which
health authorities and competition authorities will have
to come together.