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Date Published: 05/05/2021
ARCHIVED - Ministry of Health will allow pharmacies in Spain to sell rapid Covid tests
The tests will be “self-diagnosed”, meaning that they won’t require a medical prescription
The Ministry of Health has started the proceedings to approve a new Royal Decree/Law to allow the sale of “self-diagnosed” Covid tests, antigen or antibody, in pharmacies, without a medical prescription, which is currently a requirement.
The draft of the new law, published last Friday (April 30), states that the availability of “self-diagnosed” tests will allow the general public to take Covid-19 tests without these being administered by a medical professional, which will increase the speed of detection of new cases and will also reduce the pressure on healthcare centres.
The possibility of authorizing pharmacies to carry out antigen tests is something that has been requested several times in the region of Madrid, in order to increase early detection. However, up to now, the Ministry of Health has only authorized these tests in areas with a high incidence rate.
Since February 2021, the region of Madrid has been carrying out antigen Covid tests in pharmacies and dental clinics, but only with a medical prescription. These tests in pharmacies were available for free for all asymptomatic residents of high-risk areas. These citizens received a text message from the health authorities in Madrid to alert them of their free test.
Meanwhile, in several other European countries, including Germany, France, Austria, the Netherlands and Portugal, pharmacies are already permitted to sell this type of Covid tests to the general public without a medical prescription.
The draft of the new decree law has been put on public display from April 30 to May 13, to enable the regional health ministries to review the proposals and make any suggestions they see fit before its implementation.
The proposal of the new decree law has been very well received among pharmaceutical professionals, who have been demanding this measure be implemented for months.
The president of the pharmaceutical college of the region of Murcia, Paula Payá Peñalver, said that the decision is "a very important step in the prevention of infections." For Payá, the network of pharmacies in every town and most villages "is an essential point of reference in the fight against the pandemic."
She also considers that including pharmacies within the plan to prevent and fight the coronavirus "can be a very effective strategy" which will enable anyone concerned that either themselves or a family member who has been exposed to a potential contagion can quickly find peace of mind, or have the knowledge to take a rapid preventative action, through a quick and simple testing process.
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