Pharma Categories

Medicines authorized in Switzerland are divided into four categories. The list shows the new delivery categories that will be valid from January 1, 2019:

Distribution category A:

Dispensing category A contains prescription drugs that can be purchased in a doctor's practice or with a doctor's prescription once in a pharmacy. There is a documentation obligation for the specialists. Examples are antibiotics, narcotics and cytostatics.

Dispensing category B:

Dispensing category B includes prescription drugs that are obtained from a doctor's practice or from a pharmacy on one or more occasions with a doctor's prescription may be. Some medicines from category B can be dispensed by the pharmacist without a prescription after a consultation. These are in particular the so-called list B+ and the ex-list C. The delivery is subject to documentation (depending on the product, e.g. entry in the patient dossier, algorithm, checklist). Furthermore, in a justified exceptional case, a so-called emergency delivery is possible. And after an initial prescription, a drug can be dispensed for a year without a prescription for long-term therapy. Examples: antihypertensives, cholesterol-lowering drugs, codeine, "morning-after pill".

Distribution category C:

Distribution category C was abolished at the end of 2018. In the years before, it contained the medicines that had to be sold in pharmacies. In 2019 and 2020, these 640 medicines were reassigned to either dispensing category B (prescription only, ex-list C) or dispensing category D (specialist advice). At the same time, drugs from list D were reallocated to list E (over-the-counter). All non-prescription medicines can now be sold in drugstores.

Dispensing category D:

Medicines in category D do not require a prescription and may be dispensed in doctor's surgeries, pharmacies and drugstores after specialist advice . There is no documentation requirement. Examples are painkillers such as ibuprofen or anti-diarrheal agents such as loperamide.

Distribution category E:

Medicines in category E do not require a prescription and may be dispensed in doctor's surgeries, pharmacies, drugstores and in retail stores (sold in all stores). No specialist advice is required and there is no obligation to document. Examples are cough drops and some teas.