Table 1.
Overview of regulatory processes in five selected countries in the EMR
| Formal procedure for the switch from POM to OTC product available | Online database of registered medicines | Actual practice for the switch from POM to OTC | National OTC list available (year available) | Contraceptives included in OTC list | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | No | Yes (not accessible outside Egypt) | Medicinal product to food supplement | Yes (2014) | No |
| Jordan | No | Yes (in Arabic, ATC classification) | OTC in the country of origin | Yes (2018) | No |
| Lebanon | No | Yes | Informal procedure, OTC in the country of origin | Yes (2018) | Yes (ellaOne) |
| Morocco | No | Yes | OTC in the country of origin | No | N/A |
| Tunisia | No | Yes (classified by therapeutic class) | Application for change of status | No | N/A |
POM prescription-only medicine, OTC over the counter, N/A not applicable