[yarcob]

What ridiculous regulations are there with regard to ibuprofen and paracetamol? Are you talking about the fact that medicines are not allowed to be sold in supermarkets?

I think it's a good thing, since it's a pretty good guarantee that you actually get what you buy.

You can get ibuprofen and paracetamol at any pharmacy in Austria for a few euros without a prescription. And in every district there's always a pharmacy that is open 24h.

[jahnu]

Nah it's absolutely daft and just guild protectionism for things like paracetamol.

Fake or bad goods are not an issue in developed countries without these extreme rules.

But that's not my point. My point is that such extreme rules stand in stark contrast to the sale of snake oil.

[kaba0]

And pharmacists can actually give proper medical advice on the products!

[injidup]

they can and do give proper medical advice on the medical products they are selling but at the same time they are selling homeopathic products and other magic pills, powders and devices from the same counter. This seems conflict of interest / ethics. I am not sure why pharmacies are not regulated but that is the way it is in Austria.

[kaba0]

Wasn’t their a serious debunk of homeopathy EU-wise? Was their stronger country-level laws that defended this scam in Austria?

Because in Hungary I no longer see them around.

[yarcob]

It's unfortunately surprisingly common for doctors and nurses to recommend all kinds of quack treatments in Austria. The pharmacies are not the only profiteers of these scams.