Online pharmacy markets in the Nordics (DCCA as independent authority)

The Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) are among the most digitalised countries in the world. For example, in the latest DESI-index (The Digital Economy and Society Index), Finland, Sweden and Denmark hold the top three ranks among the EU countries. Iceland and Norway have also scored highly in the recent DESI-rankings comparing the digitalisation of countries worldwide.

Although all Nordic countries have achieved a high level of digitalisation in their societies, there are also differences between the countries. One difference, the topic of this report, is observed in the e-commerce of pharmaceutical products. Pharmaceutical products are essential for the wellbeing of consumers. Traditionally, the distribution of medicines to consumers has been organised through heavily regulated networks of physical pharmacies. The strict regulation of market structure has been in place to ensure the safety, accessibility and affordability of medicines, but it has also limited competition in the pharmacy sector. As the regulation of pharmacies differs between the Nordic countries, this has also created different market conditions for online pharmacies to operate in these countries