Abstract: This paper analyzes the development of pharmacy in the Morava Banovina region between 1929 and 1941. The growth of this service was demonstrated by the establishment of pharmacies in larger places and urban areas, and by the passing of laws intended to control the distribution of medications and prohibit illicit trading. The article was written using literature and materials from the Ministry of Social Policy and Public Health’s fund, which are stored in the Archives of Yugoslavia.

Keywords: pharmacy, drugstores, Morava Banovina, Niš, Kingdom of Yugoslavia

Summary

The development of the pharmacy service in the territory of Morava banovina depended, first and foremost, on the private initiative of pharmacists and the ability to improve their work by state-enacted legal regulations, but also on membership in the Chamber of Pharmacists, which operated as a kind of class association. Some of the problems that this activity encountered were the increasing influence of drugstores and the unclear distinction between powers surrounding the issuance and sale of drugs and medical preparations. The state intervened to demarcate the competencies of these shops, considering the delicate nature of the products being offered. The burden on the functioning of the pharmacy service was also represented by the gap between pharmacy owners and pharmacy associates, who, considering their qualifications and expertise, were in an unenviable position. The competent authorities did not take any further tangible steps, considering the private nature of the activity and the employment contracts dictated by the employers.