OREANDA-NEWS. The Russian government has allowed non-chain pharmacies and marketplaces to remotely sell OTC medicines, the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers said.

The new order will take effect on September 1, 2021.

The resolution, which was signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, amends the rules for issuing permits for the sale of drugs via the Internet. Thus, the requirement for organizations to have at least ten pharmacies in Russia, as well as their own website, is canceled. At the same time, they can enter into agreements with the owners of aggregators in order to post offers and use them to trade.

Earlier, the deputy head of the Ministry of Digital Industry Maxim Parshin told RIA Novosti that the industry proposed the initiative on the remote sale of drugs. According to him, such measures make it possible to purchase medicines quickly and without leaving home.

Mishustin emphasized that when selling medicines online, it is important to prevent price increases and the spread of counterfeit products.

According to the new rules, when selling remotely, the prices for medicines should not be higher than those set in the pharmacy, the press service of the government said. The document itself, signed by Mishustin, is not yet on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers - they promise to publish it later.