State legislators debate pharmacy ownership law

NEW YORK State legistalors in North Dakota are debating a law that requires majority ownership of pharmacies by pharmacists.

Opponents, including large retail pharmacy chains, say repealing the law would allow pharmacies to offer generic prescription discounts, which retail pharmacy, supermarket and mass merchandising chains across the country have done for several years. 

Meanwhile, those who favor keeping the law in place say that it protects small, independent drug stores from chains and allows more decision making by pharmacies themselves.

Last month, a report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) concluded that repealing North Dakota's Pharmacy Ownership Law would cost the state millions of dollars in annual economic activity and tax revenue, dramatically reduce the number of pharmacies serving rural areas, and degrade the overall quality of pharmacy services in the state.