According to the results of the Pharma & Hospital Report study, Cegedim Customer Information estimates that the volume of medicines dispensed to patients in Romania totaled 710.0 million units, from January to December 2024. This figure reflects a 1.7% decline compared to the previous year, 2023.
The total number of treatment days increased by 0.3%. Excluding medicines allocated to the cost-volume-result (CVR) and cost-volume (CV) programs, the number of treatment days for prescription-bound medicines in retail and hospitals remained quite the same.
The value of medicines dispensed to patients in Romania increased by 13.8%, reaching RON 34.1 billion (EUR 6.86 billion) at the wholesale price level. Isolating the impact of the CVR and CV programs, the value of prescription medicines in retail pharmacies increased by 14.8% compared to the reference period, amounting to RON 17.6 billion (EUR 3.54 billion).
Pharma market evolution in Volume
In the final quarter of 2024, the total volume of medications dispensed to patients reached 187.1 million units, marking a 0.9% increase compared to the same quarter in 2023. This modest growth was primarily fueled by a 0.5% rise in the retail channel, while hospital dispensations experienced a substantial increase of 11.6%. Analyzing the segments, prescription medications in pharmacies rose by 2.2%, whereas over-the-counter (OTC) products, which include both OTC drugs and nutritional supplements, saw a decline of 2.1%.
From January to December 2024, the total volume of drugs dispensed to Romanian patients reached 710.0 million units, reflecting a 1.7% decrease compared to 2023. Prescription-based medicines (Rx) from pharmacies increased to 415.8 million units, although this still represents a decline of 1.8%. Over-the-counter (OTC) products in pharmacies totaled 262.8 million units, which also showed a decrease of 2.5% from the prior year. In contrast, the hospital segment experienced a moderate increase, accounting for 31.4 million units, which represents a growth of 5.7%.
Pharma market evolution in Value
In the final quarter of 2024, the total value of medicines dispensed to patients reached RON 9.3 billion, representing a 13.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This growth was driven by a 10.9% increase in the retail sector and a 28.5% increase in hospital dispensations. Within the retail channel, the value of prescription (Rx) medicines rose by 13.1%, while over-the-counter (OTC) products increased by 5.7%.
Notably, retail Rx drugs under cost-volume contracts increased by 22.4%, while those under cost-volume-result contracts decreased by 15.3%. Other Rx medicines in retail advanced by 12.5% compared to the 4th quarter of 2023.
From January to December 2024, the total market value reached RON 34.1 billion, reflecting a 13.8% increase compared to 2023. Prescription-based medicines (Rx) from pharmacies generated RON 20.8 billion, marking a 14.2% rise, while over-the-counter (OTC) products totaled RON 8.0 billion, which represents a 6.2% increase. The hospital segment contributed RON 5.3 billion, demonstrating a significant growth of 25.6%.
Isolating the significant impact of the CVR and CV programs, amounting to RON 3.2 billion, the value of prescription medicines in retail pharmacies increased by 14.8% from the previous year, reaching RON 17.6 billion (EUR 3.53 billion).
Main players in the local pharmaceutical market
In the last quarter of 2024, the ranking of the top corporations by volume remained unchanged. Sun Pharma (including Terapia) maintained its lead with 18.5 million units, followed by Zentiva (including Labormed and Alvogen) with 16.7 million units, and Servier (including Egis) with 11.2 million units.
In the last quarter of 2024, the top three hierarchy by value changed vs the previous quarter. AstraZeneca maintained the leading position with RON 482.7 million, while Sanofi (RON 419.0 million) and Sun Pharma (RON 409.3 million, including Terapia) switched places. million.
To consult the complete information on the Romanian pharmaceutical market evolution in the last quarter of 2024 as well as the top players on this market during the same period, access directly our press release.
We also invite you to consult an executive summary of the study for the mentioned period, with graphical representations of the data presented in our article. You can also consult the executive summaries on both the OTC products and the dermo-cosmetics market in 2024.
Pharma & Hospital Report, a reference study in the analysis of the pharmaceutical market in Romania, has been carried out since 1996.
