Poland amends pharmaceutical laws following EU court ruling

Poland is moving toward legislative changes in the pharmaceutical sector following a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). The CJEU found that Poland violated EU law by implementing advertising bans that were overly broad, covering not only medicine sales but also general pharmacy services and health communications, such as screening programs.

In response, the Polish government has progressed with an amendment to the Pharmaceutical Law. Following public consultations in late 2025, the Council of Ministers approved a final draft on August 4, 2026, which has been sent to Parliament. The goal is to ensure that restrictions on pharmacy promotion are proportionate and do not prevent patients from receiving beneficial information regarding prices or additional services.

Separately, the pharmaceutical community in Poland is addressing professional challenges. The Supreme Pharmaceutical Council is advocating for expanded pharmaceutical practices that would allow pharmacists to provide services outside of traditional pharmacy settings, such as in care homes or private practices. Additionally, discussions continue regarding the regulation of homeopathic products and the implementation of full prescription validation to prevent errors.