According to Pharma & Hospital Report results, Cegedim Customer Information estimates that between January and December 2023, the volume of medicines dispensed to patients in Romania was 722.6 mn units, up by 2.4% as compared to that in 2022.
The total number of treatment days increased by 6.0%. Excluding drugs allocated to the cost-volume-result (CVR) and cost-volume (CV) programs, for prescription-bound medicines in retail and hospitals, the number of treatment days increased by 5.8%.
During the same period, the value of medicines dispensed to patients in Romania went up by 16.2%, to RON 29.96 bn (EUR 6.1 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 21.7% as compared to the previous year, to RON 15.3 bn (EUR 3.1 bn).
Pharma market evolution in Volume
In the fourth quarter of 2023, the total volume of the medicines dispensed to patients reached 185.3 mn units, up by 2.1% as compared to the 4th quarter of 2022. This evolution was generated by the retail channel (+2.2%), while the hospital slightly decreased (-0.5%). By segments, the Rx drugs in pharmacies increased by 2.4% while the OTC products (both OTC drugs and nutritional supplements) increased by 1.9%.
Between January and December 2023, the total volume of drugs dispensed to Romanian patients was 722.6 mn units, up by 2.4% as compared to the year 2022. The volume of prescription-based medicines (Rx) from pharmacies rose to 423.5 mn units (+4.9%) and the over-the-counter (OTC) products in pharmacies summed up to 269.4 mn units (-1.8%). The hospital segment accounted for 29.7 mn units, up by +7.1% compared to the previous year.
Pharma market evolution in Value
The total value of the medicines dispensed to patients during Q4 of 2023 reached RON 8.16 bn, up by 18.5% as compared to the same period last year, given that the medicines dispensed in retail went up by 19.8% and those in hospitals by 11.4%. Within the retail channel, Rx medicines advanced by 22.4% and OTCs by 14.1%.
While the retail Rx drugs related to cost-volume contracts increased by 21.8%, in part due to the introduction of new molecules, those for cost-volume-result contracts decreased by 24.1%. The rest of Rx medicines in retail also advanced by 24.5% as compared to the 4th quarter of 2022.
Between January – December 2023, the total value of the market was RON 29.96 bn, up by 16.2%, as compared to the year 2022. Prescription-based medicines (Rx) from pharmacies reached RON 18.21 bn, up by 20.5%, over-the-counter products (OTC) from pharmacies scored RON 7.49 bn (+10.6%) and the hospital segment accounted for RON 4.26 bn (+9.4%).
Main players in the local pharmaceutical market
In terms of volumes, in the 4th quarter of 2023, the hierarchy remained the same, with Sun Pharma (including Terapia) in the first place with 18.8 mn units, followed by Zentiva (including Labormed and Alvogen) with 16.3 mn units and by Servier (including Egis) with 10.7 mn units.
In terms of value, in the 4th quarter of 2023, there is a change in the hierarchy, with Sanofi (RON 397.7) taking first place, followed by SunPharma (including Terapia) with RON 380.6 mn and AstraZeneca with RON 369.1 mn.
To consult the complete information on the Romanian pharmaceutical market evolution in the fourth quarter of 2023 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.
