The Spanish competition authority, CNMC, has issued a report on a draft decree that partially develops the Law on Pharmaceutical Organization and Care in the Community of Madrid. This decree addresses essential aspects of competitive functioning in the pharmacy sector, including operating hours, on-call services, personalized dosage systems, and home pharmaceutical care.

While the CNMC supports the decree's aim to improve the quality of pharmaceutical care and expand service coverage, it warns that certain measures introduce unjustified restrictions that could limit competition, increase costs, and reduce patient access to services.

Among its recommendations, the CNMC suggests eliminating restrictions that hinder pharmacies from voluntarily extending their hours and the requirement to hire additional staff based on extended hours and the owner's age. These measures disproportionately affect smaller pharmacies and limit service availability.

Additionally, the CNMC advises that the planning of on-call services and vacations should be based on objective, transparent, and non-discriminatory criteria to ensure adequate pharmaceutical care. It also proposes removing the exclusivity of service provision by the pharmacy dispensing the medication to encourage specialization and competition.

Furthermore, the CNMC recommends allowing home delivery of medications and health products by pharmacies and other operators under supervision, while also revising territorial limitations to enhance competition and patient choice.