The new decree will establish that the luminous cross of pharmacies can only be lit during opening hours and on duty. The Galician government has approved a new decree that prohibits pharmacies from advertising medicines and healthcare products through websites and social media. They will also not be allowed to hire influencers or well-known individuals for promotion.
This was announced by the Conselleiro of Presidency, Xustiza e Deportes, Diego Calvo, after the meeting of the Consello de la Xunta on Monday. He appeared on behalf of the president, Alfonso Rueda, who is on an institutional trip in Latin America. Calvo explained that the new regulation will limit any communication or advertising that encourages the use of medicines and healthcare products to avoid harm to the health or safety of citizens.
The decree consists of eight articles that replace a text from 2008 to adapt it to the new social reality, especially in the digital realm. Establishments will have six months to comply with the new regulations. Pharmacies can only advertise through packaging, bags, or paper used to wrap products, as well as on the internet and messaging, but only including general information like identification, address, phone number, hours, and guard schedule.
They can also promote other healthcare activities and authorized services carried out in the establishment, but not related to drugs. They cannot use their websites or social media to link to self-diagnosis or self-medication tools. Pharmacies can provide general information about the rational use of medicines promoted by institutions and pharmacy colleges, send newsletters, issue loyalty cards, and similar tools, as long as they do not refer to medicines or healthcare products.
Pharmacies are only allowed to offer incentives, gifts, prizes, rewards, and discounts as outlined in the regulation. The decree also updates the guidelines for identifying pharmacies and attached dispensaries. They must be marked by a green Greek or Maltese cross, which will only be lit during opening hours and on duty.
LOCATION OF BONE MARROW DONORS
The Consello has also approved the renewal of the agreement between the Axencia de Doazón de Órganos e Sangue (ADOS) and the Josep Carreras Foundation for Galician patients to locate bone marrow donors worldwide who are compatible. The Xunta will allocate €885,000 to this initiative. Potential donors will be sought in Spain first, and if necessary, international registries will be accessed.
In 2024, Sergas performed 213 bone marrow transplants, with the majority (160) being autologous transplants, 24 using related donors, and 29 using unrelated donors found through this agreement.
AEROBIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Furthermore, the Galician government has authorized a collaboration between the Consellería de Sanidade and the University of Vigo (UVigo) for €174,240 to control aerobiology in Galicia. UVigo will collect weekly aerobiological samples at four stations in Vigo, Santiago, Lugo, and Ourense to understand the distribution of pollen and spores in the atmosphere and their dynamics. This information will be shared with the Dirección Xeral de Saúde Pública and the Red Española de Aerobiología.
FUENTE
