Find a pharmacy in Chelm

Chelm is an eastern Polish city of roughly 60,000 residents in Lublin Voivodeship, sitting about 25 km from the Ukrainian border at Dorohusk. PillsCard lists 25 verified pharmacies serving the local population alongside cross-border patients, lorry crews using the Dorohusk crossing, and a growing community of Ukrainian-speaking residents who settled here after 2022. Most outlets cluster around the historic Old Town and along ulica Lwowska, with a secondary concentration near the railway station and the SP ZOZ regional hospital on ulica Ceramiczna. A handful of late-night and Sunday-rota pharmacies cover the residential estates of Dyrekcja Górna and Słoneczna, where chain branches dominate footfall and independent shops serve the older streets near Plac Łuczkowskiego.

The Chelm market is moderately consolidated: the DOZ group operates several outlets under the Apteka Dbam o Zdrowie and DOZ Apteka.Dbam o Zdrowie banners, giving it the largest single footprint, while Apteka Gemini holds a meaningful share through its retail network. Independents and small partnerships still hold ground — Apteka Stansenpol trades under both the EPIONA brand and as Stansenpol MAI Seniuk i spółka spółka jawna, and the Apteka Centrum I Apteka SDA pairing covers the city centre alongside the standalone "Apteka SDA". Smaller community-facing names such as Apteka z Sercem round out the mix in the residential blocks. There is no hospital-attached retail monopoly; most pharmacies are stand-alone outlets contracted with NFZ for reimbursed prescriptions.

§01Pricing & coverage

Over-the-counter prices in Chelm track national norms: a 20-tablet pack of paracetamol 500 mg runs 5–9 PLN, ibuprofen 400 mg around 8–14 PLN, and a basic 5-day antibiotic course such as amoxicillin typically 15–25 PLN on a reimbursed prescription. NFZ (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia) covers a tiered share — free (bezpłatne), 30%, 50%, or full-price — depending on the drug and the patient's status, with seniors over 65 and children under 18 eligible for an expanded free list. Medicines outside the reimbursement register are sold at retail. The product register is maintained by URPL.

§02Emergencies & out-of-hours care

Chelm pharmacies operate a duty rota (dyżur nocny) coordinated by the city council, so at least one outlet is open overnight and on Sundays; the current schedule is posted at participating shops and on the Urząd Miasta Chełm website. For medical emergencies — chest pain, severe bleeding, suspected stroke, anaphylaxis after a medication — call 112 or 999 directly rather than visiting a pharmacy. The SP ZOZ regional hospital on ulica Ceramiczna 1 handles A&E intake for the wider powiat. Pharmacists can advise on minor ailments but cannot dispense most prescription drugs without a valid e-recepta code.

§03Frequently asked questions

Are Ukrainian-language services available in Chelm pharmacies?

Yes, more widely than in most Polish cities of this size. Proximity to the Dorohusk border crossing and the post-2022 Ukrainian population mean several central pharmacies, particularly along Lwowska and near the bus station, employ Ukrainian-speaking staff. Patients holding a PESEL UKR number can fill reimbursed prescriptions on the same NFZ terms as Polish residents, provided the prescribing doctor enters the correct insurance code. Carry your e-recepta four-digit code and an ID document; staff will usually verify entitlement via the eWUŚ system at the counter.

Can I fill a foreign prescription in Chelm?

Prescriptions issued in another EU/EEA country can be dispensed in Chelm if they meet the cross-border prescription standard: prescriber details, patient ID, INN drug name, strength, and form. Non-EU prescriptions, including Ukrainian ones, are not directly valid — you will need to see a Polish doctor (NFZ or private) to have an equivalent e-recepta issued. Controlled substances and narcotics face stricter rules and may require a Polish specialist prescription regardless of origin.

Which pharmacies in Chelm open on Sundays?

Sunday opening rotates under the municipal duty roster. The DOZ Apteka and Apteka Gemini branches in the central shopping areas tend to keep the longest weekday hours, but Sunday cover is assigned by rotation across the city's licensed outlets. Check the dyżur list posted at any pharmacy door, in the local press, or on the Urząd Miasta noticeboard before travelling.

Do Chelm pharmacies stock paediatric and chronic-disease medication reliably?

Yes for common items — paediatric paracetamol suspensions, insulin pens, inhalers, standard antihypertensives and statins are routinely stocked. Less common biologics or specialised oncology drugs are usually ordered in within 24–48 hours; ask the pharmacist to place a zamówienie. For chronic prescriptions, requesting a recepta roczna from your GP lets you collect repeats from any pharmacy in Poland over a 12-month window.

§04Safety note

This directory is informational only and is not medical advice. For individual clinical decisions, dosage queries, or interaction checks, consult a licensed pharmacist or your prescribing doctor in person.