According to the results of the Pharma Hospital Report study, which analyzes the local pharmaceutical market, Cegedim Customer Information estimates that from July 2023 to June 2024, the volume of medicines dispensed to patients in Romania totaled 711.3 million units, representing a 1.1% decline compared to the period from July 2022 to June 2023.
The total number of treatment days increased by 2.5%. 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 rose by 2.0%.
During the same period of time, the value of medicines dispensed to patients in Romania increased by 15.0%, reaching RON 31.99 billion (EUR 6.44 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 19.8% compared to the reference period, amounting to RON 16.65 billion (EUR 3.35 billion).
Pharma market evolution in Volume and in Value
In the second quarter of 2024, the total volume of medicines dispensed to patients reached 170.3 million units, reflecting a 3.4% decrease compared to the same quarter in 2023. This decline was driven by a 3.7% reduction in the retail channel, while hospital dispensations increased by 1.8%. By segment, prescription drugs in pharmacies decreased by 3.1%, whereas over-the-counter (OTC) products, including both OTC drugs and nutritional supplements, decreased by 4.7%.
During the same period, the total value of medicines dispensed to patients reached RON 8.20 billion, representing a 12.8% increase compared to the same period last year. This growth was driven by a 10.4% increase in the retail sector and a 27.2% increase in hospital dispensations. Within the retail channel, the value of prescription (Rx) medicines rose by 13.5%, while over-the-counter (OTC) products increased by 2.8%.
Notably, retail Rx drugs under cost-volume contracts increased by 18.2%, while those under cost-volume-result contracts decreased by 65.5%. Other Rx medicines in retail advanced by 15.9% compared to the second quarter of 2023.
Main players in the local pharmaceutical market
In the second quarter of 2024, the ranking of the top corporations by volume remained unchanged. Sun Pharma (including Terapia) maintained its lead with 17.3 million units, followed by Zentiva (including Labormed and Alvogen) with 15.9 million units, and Servier (including Egis) with 10.9 million units.
During the same period, the top three corporations by value maintained their positions. AstraZeneca led with RON 424.4 million, followed by Sanofi with RON 375.2 million, and Sun Pharma (including Terapia) with RON 365.1 million.
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.
