わが国の薬事法は、化粧品・医薬品・医薬部外品・医療機器の４つを所管していますが、そのうちの医薬品、中でも一般用医薬品（ＯＴＣ薬などとも言われます）業界の流通経路を簡略的に図式化したものが以下です。メーカーや卸売業の再編やドラッグストアなどの組織小売業の台頭、さらには薬事法の改正などよって、今後も流通構造の変化が続くことが予想されます。
The Pharmaceutical Affairs Act in our country holds jurisdiction over 4 areas: cosmetic products, pharmaceutical products, quasi-pharmaceutical products and medical equipment. The following is the simplified diagram of the distribution channel of general pharmaceutical products (also called OTC medicine) industry. The changes in the distribution structure is expected to happen in the future due to the emerging organisation's retail stores such as restructuring of manufacturers and retailers drugstores amendement of Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.
