Employment rattles Greece and economy

Due to steep regulations on the creation of new pharmacies, the Greek economy may be having problems keeping itself going.

 Greek law ensures that pharmacists get a 35 percent profit on all drugs sold, even over-the-counter medications. But Greek law also limits just about everything else about pharmacies. They must be at least 820 feet apart and have a likely market of no fewer than 1,500 residents. To break into the business, an aspiring pharmacist generally has to buy a license from a retiring one. That often costs upward of $400,000.

This may not be a problem any more because Prime Minister George Papandreou is trying to pass a law that allows pharmacies to be where ever they want and they don't have to buy their permits from old retiring pharmacists.