a canadian startup

Quiz: OTC or not to Be?

Of all of the products pharmacies sell, some of them can only be sold by pharmacies, and some of them could be sold by any store.

Drugs, which only pharmacies can sell, are further divided in subcategories called “schedules”.

Schedule 1 drugs are prescriptions drugs — you need a valid doctor’s prescription to buy them at a pharmacy.

Schedule 2 drugs don’t require a prescription but are stored “behind the counter” — so you have to talk to a pharmacist in order to get them.

Schedule 3 drugs (also called “OTC’s” as in Over-the-Counter drugs) are the last category — these are drugs that anyone can buy but can only be purchased at a pharmacy. A pharmacist has to be available for questions.

Everything else (e.g. Colgate toothpaste) is “unscheduled” — any store can sell them. These are often called “front-shop” items.

So pop-quiz!

Q: Which of the following products are OTC drugs (only sell-able by a pharmacy) and which of the following are frontshop items that anyone can sell?

a) b)c)d)

e)f)g)h)

A: it’s a trick question. Everything above is an OTC item except for (c) the Q-tips. It can be surprising how many products (for example common sunscreens) can only be sold by pharmacies. Well.ca has the ability to sell these items because we are an accredited pharmacy.