The legal definition
Category B is defined in Art. 42 of the Therapeutic Products Ordinance (TPO): medicines that may only be supplied against a prescription, without the stricter conditions of category A. Swissmedic sets the category in the authorisation decision, per strength rather than per product.
Classification follows a set of criteria: substance profile, known risk, need for a diagnosis, interaction potential and experience in Switzerland and abroad. A medicine with a new active substance almost always starts in category B or A; reclassification to category D becomes possible only after years of market surveillance and must be applied for by the authorisation holder.
Who may supply category B?
Pharmacies may supply against a prescription, and doctors may dispense directly where the canton allows it. In addition, pharmacists may supply certain category B medicines themselves without a prescription under Art. 24 para. 1 lit. a TPA, provided they document the supply.
- Pharmacy with a valid prescription: the standard case, repeatable if the prescriber notes it.
- Pharmacy without a prescription: only for the substances and indications on the Swissmedic list under Art. 45 TPO, with a documentation duty.
- Direct dispensing by doctors: governed by cantonal law, permitted in most German-speaking cantons, heavily restricted in Geneva, Neuchâtel, Vaud, Basel-City and Ticino.
- Hospital pharmacy: supply to its own patients as part of treatment.
B compared with A, D and E
A, B, D and E differ along two axes: prescription status and point of supply. A and B are prescription only, D and E are not. Category A prescriptions may not be repeated, category B prescriptions may. D requires specialist advice in a pharmacy or drugstore, E requires none.
| Category | Prescription | Point of supply | Examples in the directory |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | yes, not repeatable | Pharmacy | Narcotics, strong opioids |
| B | yes, repeatable | Pharmacy, direct dispensing | Antibiotics, antidepressants, statins |
| D | no, advice required | Pharmacy, drugstore | Ibuprofen generics, decongestant nasal sprays |
| E | no | All points of sale | Glucose tablets, some herbal teas |
The former category C (pharmacy supply without a prescription) was abolished by the revision of the Therapeutic Products Act on 1 January 2019. Swissmedic reclassified the roughly 500 affected products into categories B or D by 2022. If an older source still mentions category C, it is out of date.
Where to check the category of a medicine
The authorisation decision is binding, and three sources make it verifiable in practice: the monthly Swissmedic list of authorised medicines, the product information on swissmedicinfo.ch, and the pack itself, which carries the category in print.
- This directory: open the medicine's detail page and read the dispensing category field in the facts table.
- Swissmedicinfo: open the product information and read the dispensing category section at the end of the document.
- Pack: the category is printed next to the authorisation number.
Watch out for products with several strengths: the category can differ per strength. In the Swissmedic export that appears as the combination B/D. A familiar pattern is proton pump inhibitors, where the low strength sits in D and the high strength in B.
Frequently asked questions
Does dispensing category B require a prescription?
Yes. Category B medicines may only be supplied against a medical or veterinary prescription. The prescription is repeatable if the prescriber notes it. Exception: medicines on the list under Art. 45 TPO may be supplied by a pharmacy after specialist advice without a prescription.
What is the difference between dispensing categories A and B?
Both are prescription only. A category A prescription may not be dispensed repeatedly, a category B prescription may. Category A covers medicines with a raised misuse or safety risk, such as narcotics and strong opioids.
Why does dispensing category C no longer exist?
The revision of the Therapeutic Products Act abolished category C on 1 January 2019, to strengthen the role of the pharmacy and simplify the classification. Swissmedic reclassified the affected products into categories B or D.
Can an authorisation holder apply for reclassification?
Yes. The holder may ask Swissmedic for a reclassification, for example from B to D. The application needs a safety rationale for self-medication, market surveillance data and revised patient and product information. The procedure carries a fee.