Table 2.

Numbers and activities of Austrian community pharmacists and pharmacies [8].

Item	Numbers	Comments
Community pharmacists	5822	31 December 2016 1468 persons/pharmacist
Community pharmacies	1352	31 December 2016 6320 persons/pharmacy. 4.3 pharmacists per pharmacy
Competences and roles of community pharmacists		Delivery of medicines o Advice on medicines, doctors’ prescriptions o Advice on the choice and use of non-prescription medicines o Check for adverse effects and interactions Preparation of magistral officinal formulae, production of medicines Health advice: giving up smoking, travel healthcare, diet, exercise, healthier lifestyle Health care: measurement of blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, weight and abdominal girth, venous function, lung function Vaccination programmes: influenza, menigitis, hepatitis, pneumococci, meningococci, etc. Addictive drugs substitution programs Personal support for chronically ill persons Administrative tasks for health insurance funds: levying the prescription fee
Is ownership of a community pharmacy limited to pharmacists?	Yes	Only a pharmacist can own and manage a pharmacy. Partnerships are possible but the pharmacist must own at least 51%. Vertical integration is possible but restricted. No pharmacist is granted more than one license to manage a pharmacy. Multiple ownership of pharmacies, in the form of chains, is not allowed. A pharmacist may open a maximum of one branch pharmacy which operates under the supervision of the main pharmacy.
Rules governing the geographical distribution of pharmacies?	Yes	The establishment of a community pharmacy is regulated. Rules comprise geographic and demographic criteria. Establishment is also bound to a management permit, which means that the pharmacist must have at least five years of experience working in a pharmacy.
Are drugs and healthcare products available by other channels?	Partially	Around 890 doctors are allowed to dispense directly to their patients. Drugstores are allowed to sell a very restricted range of OTC medicines, e.g., herbal teas, remedies and cosmetics listed in the so-called “Abgrenzungsverordnung” (demarcation regulation). The mail order or online selling of non-prescription medicines–but not prescription-only medicines—is allowed within Austria.