Polish pharmaceutical market: 7% CAGR expected for 2009-2011

In 2008 the pharmaceutical market in Poland was worth 24.1 billion zlotys (6.9 billion euros), representing an 11.5% increase in comparison with 2007, according to the latest PMR Publications report, 'The Pharmaceutical and healthcare market in Poland 2009'. The financial crisis does not seem to have had an impact on the pharmaceutical market in Poland in 2008. Furthermore, 2008 was one of the best years for the pharmaceutical industry in the past decade, in part because of high Gross Domestic Product growth and related increases in the purchasing power of Polish consumers. Non-refunded over-the-counter medicines, with dietary supplements at the helm, drove market growth. As a consequence, in 2008 OTC products already represented 34% of the overall pharmacy market in Poland, whereas in 2005 they accounted for around 30%. Close to half of 2008 market value was, however, generated by sales of prescription drugs subject to reimbursement.

Innovative drugs drive pharmaceutical market growth

In 2008, in comparison with 2007, the monetary value of drugs increased in all therapeutic groups. The most substantial rise was that of antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents (49%) and drugs in the category of blood and blood forming organs (21%).