The OTC market in Poland is expected to grow at the average annual rate of some 3% in 2012-2014.
Although the market will not expand as rapidly as it did in 2011, the OTC segment is poised to record positive growth, unlike the sales of reimbursed drugs. However, the Reimbursement Act, which came into force in 2012, will have implications on the OTC sector, as suggests the latest report of PMR.
In 2011, the value of the Polish OTC market (defined as pharmacy and non-pharmacy sales of drugs and dietary supplements) increased 5% year on year and stood at PLN 7.9bn (€1.9bn). After the 3% decline recorded in 2010, which was a poor year for the pharmaceutical sector in general, the market’s value thus exceeded the level recorded in 2009. “Growth factors prevailing in 2011 included price increases, launches of new products, the aging of the population as well as increased interest in self-medication, healthy lifestyle and healthy appearance and a high incidence of flu (twice as large as in 2010)” says Agnieszka Skonieczna, PMR Senior Pharmaceutical Market Analyst and the report coordinator.
