Poznań Administrative Court rules on pharmacy name changes

The Provincial Administrative Court in Poznań has overturned two decisions by the pharmaceutical inspector regarding changes to pharmacy names. The court ruled that the prohibition against the unlawful takeover of pharmacy control remains in effect throughout the entire duration of a permit, meaning inspectors must investigate potential ties to pharmacy chains even when an entrepreneur only requests a name change.

The cases involved pharmacies that had transferred their permits to general partnerships in early 2026 and subsequently applied to add or change their names to reflect specific pharmacy networks. While the inspector had previously approved these requests based on declarations from partners that no unlawful takeover had occurred, the court found the investigation insufficient.

The court noted that adopting a name characteristic of a specific chain could be used to leverage a network's reputation to attract patients, which is a factor relevant to public interest. The rulings, which are not yet final, were prompted by complaints from the Association of Polish Pharmacy Employers.