Brief and to the point

The Cabinet of Ministers has allowed the sale of over-the-counter medicines on the premises of gas stations (GS). The decision was published by the government’s press service — operation requires an appropriate license, and sales will be carried out by gas station employees without creating pharmacies or pharmacy units.

“This decision will make basic medicines more accessible to people — especially in conditions of power outages, in rural communities, remote areas and at night, when the pharmacy network is often unavailable, particularly outside large cities.”

— Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health

What exactly changed

Gas stations can now conduct retail sales of over-the-counter medicines provided they obtain a license and comply with a number of quality and storage requirements. The use of vending machines is also permitted, provided storage and incoming quality control requirements are met.

Sales conditions (brief)

• compliance with storage conditions specified by the manufacturer (temperature, humidity, etc.);
• the presence of an authorized person for incoming inspection of medicines — with higher education of at least the initial (short) cycle in the specialty “Pharmacy, Industrial Pharmacy” and responsibility for the quality system within the region;
• arrangement of a separate area for storing medicines, separated from other goods at the gas station;
• trade through vending machines is permitted provided preservation and quality control are ensured.

Why it matters: rationale behind the decision

The decision addresses a practical problem: in villages, remote areas and during power outages the traditional pharmacy network is often unavailable. The mere presence of licensing and controls offers a chance to reduce time and geographic gaps in access to basic medicines — analgesics, cold remedies, and basic first-aid supplies.

At the end of September the government already approved measures to simplify the supply of medicines to feldsher-midwife stations (FAPs). Now the logic is continued: instead of fixed lists — an orientation toward the real needs of communities.

Risks and control mechanisms

The decision is useful, but its effect will depend on oversight mechanisms. Key risks: noncompliance with storage conditions, insufficient professional control during incoming inspections, and the risk of low-quality or incorrectly labeled medicines. To minimize these risks, expeditious licensing procedures, regular inspections and a transparent list of responsibilities for regional health authorities are needed.

Pharmaceutical industry experts and local administrations have already noted the practical benefits of the initiative, but emphasize: access must go hand in hand with oversight.

Conclusion

The Cabinet’s decision has real potential to increase the availability of basic medicines in critical conditions — nighttime, remote communities, energy outages. But benefits will materialize only with clear rules for licensing, quality control and operator responsibility. Now it’s up to the regions and operators: can they combine access and safety so this does not remain merely on paper?