Apoteket Explained

Apoteket AB is a state-owned pharmaceuticals retailer in Sweden which formerly held a monopoly on the retail sale of medicines in the country. Formerly known as Apoteksbolaget, the company is a government owned enterprise reporting to the Ministry of Finance.^[3]

History

The company was founded in 1970 under the name Apoteksbolaget AB.^[4] In 1998 the name was changed to the current one, Apoteket AB.^[5]

On 1 July 2009, the government monopoly was lifted, allowing the opening of private pharmacies in Sweden.^[6] The Swedish government cited the fact of Sweden being the only democracy, along with Cuba and North Korea, to retain its monopoly as an argument for its abolishment.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Årsredovisning 2010 . Swedish . Apoteket AB . 3 . 15 March 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120105180447/http://www.apoteket.se/privatpersoner/om/Documents/Apoteket_2010_SE.pdf . 5 January 2012 .
2. Web site: Carpman . Annika . Apoteket AB gör halv miljard i vinst – halverar utdelningen . Dagens Medicin . 2023-02-03 . sv . 2024-03-24. Antalet anställda ökade under förra året till 2 821, från 2 729 anställda ett år tidigare..
3. Web site: Regeringens skrivelse 2012/13:33. The Swedish Government. 27 July 2014.
4. Web site: Apofri – Apoteket först ut med egen serie receptfria läkemedel . Mynewsdesk . 29 March 2021 . sv.
5. Encyclopedia: Apoteket AB . . Swedish . 16 March 2012.
6. News: Sweden's pharmacy monopoly finished . David . Landes . . 1 July 2009 . 15 March 2012.
7. Web site: Sveriges Grönaste Varumärke 2018 . differ.se . 29 March 2021 . 1 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201101002348/https://www.differ.se/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Sveriges-Gr%C3%B6naste-Varum%C3%A4rke-2018_rapport_final.pdf . dead .