According to the results of the Pharma & Hospital Report study which analyzes the local pharmaceutical market Cegedim Customer Information estimates that between April 2023 and March 2024, the volume of medicines dispensed to patients in Romania was 717.4 mn units, up by 0.7% compared to April 2022-March 2023.
The total number of treatment days increased by 4.9%. Excluding drugs allocated to the cost-volume-result (CVR) and cost-volume (CV) programs, for the prescription-bound medicines in retail and hospitals, the number of treatment days increased by 4.1%.
The value of medicines dispensed to patients in Romania increased by 15.9% compared to the reference period (April 2022 – March 2023), to RON 31.06 bn (EUR 6.26 bn), at the wholesale price level. By isolating the impact of cost-volume-result (CVR) and cost-volume (CV) programs, the value of Rx medicines in retail pharmacies went up by 20.4%, to RON 16.0 bn (EUR 3.22 bn).
Pharma market evolution in Volume
In the 1st quarter of 2024, the total volume of the medicines dispensed to patients reached 180.1 mn units, 2.8% less compared to the 1st quarter of 2023. This evolution was generated by both retail channel (-2.9%) and hospitals (-0.2%). By segments, the Rx drugs in pharmacies decreased by 2.4%, while the OTC products (both OTC drugs and nutritional supplements) by 3.7%.
Between April 2023 and March 2024, the total volume of drugs dispensed to Romanian patients was 717.4 mn units, up by 0.7% compared to the reference period (April 2022 – March 2023). The volume of prescription-based medicines (Rx) from pharmacies rose to 420.9 mn units (+2.6%) and the over-the-counter (OTC) products in pharmacies summed up to 266.8 mn units (-2.7%). The hospital segment accounted for 29.7 mn units, up by +4.3%.
Pharma market evolution in Value
The total value of the medicines dispensed to patients during the same period reached RON 8.15 bn, up by 15.5% compared to the first auqrter of 2023, given that the medicines dispensed in retail went up by 14.4% and those in hospitals by 22.5%. Within the retail channel, Rx medicines advanced by 18.2% and OTCs by 6.1%.
While the retail Rx drugs related to cost-volume contracts increased by 26.8%, in part due to the introduction of some new molecules, those for cost-volume-result contracts decreased by 29.2%. The rest of Rx medicines in retail advanced by 18.4% compared to the 1st quarter of 2023.
Between April 2023 and March 2024, the total value of the market was RON 31.06 bn, up by 15.9%, compared to the reference period (April 2022 – March 2023). Prescription-based medicines (Rx) from pharmacies reached RON 18.97 bn, up by 19.8%, over-the-counter products (OTC) from pharmacies scored RON 7.61 bn (+9.0%) and the hospital segment accounted for RON 4.47 bn (+12.6%).
Isolating the major impact of the cost-volume-result and the cost-volume programs from retail, with a total of RON 2.98 bn, the rest of the retail Rx market increased by 20.4%, up to RON 15.99 bn.
Main players in the local pharmaceutical market
In terms of volumes, in the 1st quarter of 2024, the hierarchy remained the same, with Sun Pharma (including Terapia) in the first place with 18.2 mn units, followed by Zentiva (including Labormed and Alvogen) with 16.2 mn units and by Servier (including Egis) with 10.5 mn units.
In terms of values, in the 1st quarter of 2024, there is a change in the hierarchy, with AstraZeneca (RON 395.6) taking the first place, followed by SunPharma (including Terapia) with RON 373.5 mn, and by Sanofi RON 360 mn.
To consult the complete information on the Romanian pharmaceutical market evolution in the first 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.
Pharma & Hospital Report, a reference study in the analysis of the pharmaceutical market in Romania, has been carried out since 1996.
