This article will teach you everything you need to know about pharmacies in Belgium
When traveling abroad, obtaining even a single drug can be difficult and critical. When we have jet lag or a disease, it is critical that we get the medicine we need as soon as possible. In contrast, this article will serve as a guide for you to purchase pharmacy products that are not available in our country.
Who is Pharmacist in Belgium ?
The healthcare landscape is in full flux, with the pharmacist occupying a unique position close to the population and the patient.
The pharmacist, as an approachable healthcare provider, listens to patients and offers advice. He will assist them or refer them to another care provider if necessary.
As a medical expert, the pharmacy pharmacist provides personalized support for the proper use of medications and other health products, allowing each patient to live a full life.
The pharmacist is an approachable confidant who assists and advises patients on how to better manage their health problems.
Also read: Pharmacies in Germany Full Guide .. 2022
About Pharmacies in Belgium
When a doctor prescribes a medication, you want it as soon as possible, whether it’s during the day, at night, during the week, or on a holiday.
People want to know where and how they may get an urgently needed drug as soon as possible, especially when it comes to an acute health crisis.
In Belgium, pharmacies are in charge of giving out or making (doctor-prescribed) medicine for patients to take. Outside of the pharmacy, people can’t sell medicine, even if it’s over-the-counter medicine. In most stores, you can buy things like plasters, band aids, skin ointments, and so on.
How to Find the Nearest Pharmacies in Belgium?
You can ask for the nearest pharmacy in Belgium by saying:
“Waar is de dichtstbijzijnde apotheek?”
You can also write the word “Apotheek” which means pharmacy on Google maps.
Also you can click here to find the nearest pharmacy to you.
Working Hours of Pharmacies in Belgium
Pharmacies’ hours of operation may differ depending on the city in which they are located. You can obtain information about working hours by accessing the most up-to-date list of pharmacies in the province from this link.
Emergency Pharmacies in Belgium (On Duty Pharmacies in Belgium)
Pharmacies are usually closed on Saturday and Sunday. During the weekend and at night, only a small number of pharmacists are available to help people who need medicine. Then, an extra fee will be charged.
Another way to find out which pharmacist is on duty is to call the “apotheek van wacht” at the central number 0903 99 000 between the hours of 22 and 9 a.m. You can also visit this website. Please keep in mind that calls cost 1.50 euro per minute, so keep that in mind.
Prices of Drugs in Belgium
“The” Molecule’s Discovery
Scientists who develop drugs, like prospectors who sift through tons of rock in search of a gram of gold, conduct experimental research on thousands of existing molecules. They’re looking for a single molecule that can fill a “unmet need” in the current pharmacopoeia.
It is widely assumed that more than 10,000 different molecules[1] must be tested in lab trials before one makes it to the pharmacy.
Once that molecule has been identified, it will take another… 12 years for it to reach the patient. The first five years are entirely devoted to chemical research in the laboratory, where it is determined, among other things, whether the molecule is toxic to living organisms.
Clinical Trials in Phases 1 and 2
Then comes the first phase of clinical trials, which is conducted on a very small number of healthy volunteers. This phase lasts about two years, and is followed by the second phase, which determines the most appropriate and safe dose, starting with the lowest.
Phase 3: Patient Testing
The third phase can begin only when all lights are green. This time, the trials will be carried out on patients who are afflicted with the disease being studied. This is done on a diverse group of people in order to demonstrate that the medicine works regardless of the patient’s genetic makeup, age, or co-morbidity.
Pharmacovigilance is the Fourth Phase
Sometimes referred to simply as ‘phase 4’. This phase closely monitors the drug’s unexpected side effects, which can occur when millions of patients use it.
Registration and Market Introduction
It will take another year to register the discovery with the Agency and to negotiate a possible reimbursement. Following that, the documents explaining the findings of the research and clinical trials must be submitted to the Agency.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) manages this process in Europe, though it delegated some of the work to the agency of the Member State in which the manufacturer is located. At the European level, a registration procedure takes an average of 300 days.
Requirements to Open A Pharmacy in Belgium
If you have the following qualifications, you can work as a pharmacist:
- Are over the age of eighteen
- Have a pharmacist diploma
- Have a visa that allows you to practice the profession. (You will receive this automatically from the Federal Public Service Public Health once you have obtained your pharmacist diploma.)
- Are members of the Order of Pharmacists Registration on the Order’s lists is a legal requirement.
To work as a hospital pharmacist, you must also have a master’s degree in hospital pharmacy, complete an internship, and be certified as a hospital pharmacist.
Belgium Online Pharmacy
When it comes to ordering pharmacy and drugstore online in Belgium, words like “scammers” and “dangerous” come to mind. How trustworthy are pharmacy belgium online? Can you place a secure online order?
Online Pharmacies in Belgium Terms and Conditions
An belgium pharmacy online may not sell all of its medications online. There should always be a physical pharmacy attached to it. A large amount of information must also be easily accessible via the website. For example, you should be able to locate the pharmacist’s name, phone number, and e-mail address. There must also be information about the physical pharmacy. This includes the hours of operation, address, and permit number.
Another quick way to see if your online pharmacy is trustworthy is to look up the pharmacy’s name here. The link will take you to the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) list for Belgium. You can then check that list to see if your online pharmacy belgium is properly registered. This list includes the websites of lloyds pharmacy belgium , Pharmonet ( pharmacies brussels , pharmacy online brussels) 24Pharma, Viata ( belgium pharmacy ) , and many other companies. That is, these are trustworthy online pharmacies.
What to Sell Pharmacies in Belgium?
Prescription and over-the-counter medications are available at the pharmacy.
OTC (Over-the-Counter) Medications
Both common colds and bloating can be treated with readily available over-the-counter medications. There are several ways to find the right product for you, including asking your pharmacist for assistance or describing your symptoms and complaints to the pharmacist.
Consumers prefer to use online pharmacies to purchase more expensive OTC drugs that are part of a planned therapy regimen, but physical pharmacy shops have an advantage when it comes to cold medications, pain relievers, and other products that patients use to treat acute conditions.
Pharmacies in Belgium sell a wide variety of non-medical health products, including skin care products.
Medical Technology Equipment
Wheelchairs, crutches, oximeters, surgical instruments, and bandages are among the medical supplies available. Pharmacies also sell a variety of health-related items, such as diabetic test strips, blood pressure monitors, and nebulizers.