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Polish OTC Sales Drive 6% Pharma Market Growth in November to US$783.3 mil.
18 Jan 08
After record-high growth in October 2007 the Polish pharmaceutical market continued to grow in November, as pharmacy sales totaled US$783.3 million on the back of healthy growth in sales of prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
Global Insight Perspective | | Significance | The total value of the Polish pharmaceutical market in November 2007 stood at 1.9 billion zloty (US$783.3 million), which was 11% higher compared to the same period of 2006. | Implications | The sale of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs showed the biggest jump of 18% y/y, amounting to 642 million zloty, whereas the sale of prescription drugs totalled 1.273 billion zloty, which was 7% higher compared to the same month in 2006. | Outlook | Sales of OTC drugs are expected to drive market growth in 2008. Hence the new reimbursement drug lists, which became effective in December 2007, are expected to slow the general pace of prescription-drug sales growth in coming months. |
Continuing Growth in November The Polish pharmaceutical market posted solid a performance in November 2007, driven by growing over-the-counter (OTC) drug sales and an introduction of the new reimbursement lists delayed to 1 December 2007, reports Pharma Poland News. The total value of the market in November amounted to 1.9 billion zloty, which was 10.6% higher in comparison to November 2006 and 3.8% lower compared to the month of October. The average price per package stood at 13.78 zloty, almost unchanged (0.9% difference) year-on-year (y/y), while the value of the prescription drug sales recorded 1.273 billion zloty, at 7% higher compared to November 2006. The highest growth was registered for OTC drugs, at 18%, exceeding 600 million zloty. Pharmaceutical Sales in Poland, 2007 | | | November 2007 Sales (zloty) | % Change Y/Y | Total pharmacy market | 1,925 billion | 10.60% | Value of reimbursed prescriptions | 895,812 million | 6.30% | Value of fully paid prescriptions | 376,863 million | 7.80% | Value of non-prescription sales | 641,588 million | 18.20% | Number of patients per pharmacy | 3,720 | -3.4% | Source: PMR.
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Outlook and Implications Global Insight correctly predicted that the Polish pharmaceutical market's November performance would be positive, given the delayed introduction of new reimbursement lists in December, instead two months earlier. Interestingly, the number of patients per pharmacy in November (24.28) was in fact 1.7% lower compared to November 2006, suggesting that the value of purchased medicines per patient had increased as patients feared losing out with the introduction of the new reimbursement list. In October, the Polish pharmaceutical market had registered record 13% growth to US$796.2 million (see Poland: 18 December 2007: OTC Drugs Drive Record 13% Higher Polish Sales in October Hitting US$796.2 mil.). Sales of OTC drugs were a market driver for both October and November sales figures, and the situation is not expected to change in 2008. The value of reimbursement by the Polish national health insurance fund in November had slowed down from the 6-8% growth noted during the previous three months to 3%, totalling 577 million zloty. It is widely expected that growth will be negatively affected. Single-digit growth below 5% has largely been predicted for 2008. Currently Polish President Lech Kaczynski is threatening to veto new legislation regarding additional health insurance; fearing deepening inequalities in healthcare access (see Poland: 15 January: President's Rift with Government Jeopardises Polish Health Reform).
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