The effect of increasing sale channels of self-care medicines in Finland

Abstract

This literature review studies the effects of increasing the sale channels of self-care medicine. First, I will explore the political background of the issue and some arguments for and against the change and how medicine is currently sold in Finland.

I will investigate the effects of increasing sale channels of self-care medicine on medicine prices, medicine availability and patient safety. I will use both the-oretical and empirical sources since similar reforms have been implemented in numerous other countries. Unfortunately, empirical studies are scarce and not always useful since such reforms are usually done at the same time with other changes. Based on these sources it does look like the reform may decrease prices while availability would likely not be an issue or be easily addressed by further reforms. However, there does appear to be some safety concerns.