According to Chiritoiu, the restrictions were valid until 2010 and were extended for two more years.
“During talks with the Health Ministry at that time, we accepted the situation, as the ministry was not ready to lift restrictions. I see no reason for extending their application again,” he added.
According to Competition Council, there are over 7,000 pharmacies in Romania, of which 1,040 belong to drugstore networks and the remainder to individual owners.
The Romanian legislation sets demographic criteria for the opening of new drugstores.
According to the demographic criterion, there should be one drugstore per 4,000 inhabitants in capital Bucharest, one per 3,500 inhabitants in county seats and one per 3,000 inhabitants in other cities and towns.