Dispensing categories
Dispensing categories for medicines in Switzerland
Swissmedic assigns every medicine a dispensing category. It decides whether a prescription is required and who may supply it: pharmacy, drugstore or general retail. Category C was abolished with the 2019 revision of the Therapeutic Products Act.
| Dispensing category | Meaning | Prescription required | Who may supply | Medicines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Restricted prescription requirement | Yes, prescription not repeatable | Pharmacies against a prescription. Without a prescription only in justified exceptional cases under Art. 45 TPO. | 1'525 |
| A+ | Restricted prescription, additional conditions | Yes, single-use prescription with conditions | Pharmacies against a single-use prescription, subject to the additional conditions of the authorisation. | 97 |
| B | Prescription only | Yes, prescription repeatable | Pharmacies against a prescription. Certain category B medicines may be supplied by pharmacists themselves without a prescription under Art. 24 para. 1 lit. a TPA. | 3'395 |
| B/D | Prescription only, some strengths without prescription | Partly, depending on strength | Per strength: the B strengths in pharmacies against a prescription, the D strengths in pharmacies and drugstores after advice. | 47 |
| D | Supply after specialist advice | No, specialist advice required | Pharmacies and drugstores after specialist advice by a medical professional or a qualified druggist. | 1'571 |
| E | Supply without specialist advice | No | All points of sale, including general retail and online shops without specialist staff. | 134 |
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Frequently asked questions
Does dispensing category B require a prescription?
Yes, prescription repeatable. Supplied only against a prescription which, at the prescriber's discretion, may be dispensed repeatedly.
Who may supply medicines in dispensing category D?
Pharmacies and drugstores after specialist advice by a medical professional or a qualified druggist.
What does authorised in Switzerland mean?
Authorised means Swissmedic assessed quality, safety and efficacy, issued an authorisation decision and assigned an authorisation number. Only then may the medicine be placed on the Swiss market. Being authorised does not automatically mean basic health insurance pays for it.
How current is the data in this directory?
The directory is built on the export of the Swissmedic list of authorised medicines. The data date appears in the footer of every page. Swissmedic updates the list monthly, so between two exports authorisations may have been granted, varied or revoked.
Sources
Swissmedic data as of 01 September 2026 · 6'769 Medicines