Steady growth projected for Romanian retail pharmacy industry

BUCHAREST, Romania — Retail pharmacy in Romania experienced 1.7% in market growth in 2014, as compared with 2013, reaching $2.7 billion, according to a report in ActMedia, Romanian Business News pubished Tuesday, citing a PMR research study. According to PMR, the value of pharmaceutical retail is estimated to grow by 4.3% this year, 7.5% in 2016, 7.2% in 2017 and 7.3% in 2018 and 2019.

 

There are more than 8,200 drug stores in Romania, according to the report. 

 

The largest pharmacy networks include Catena, owned by Anca Vlad, with more than 500 stores; Sensiblu (pictured), belonging to A&D Pharma group, with more than 400 locations; Dona (275), a network owned by Eugen Banciu; Help Net (175), part of Farmexim distributor; and Ropharma (125) owned by Mihai Miron.

 

Other important pharmacies are the group of independent drug stores Ethica (250 in 10 counties), Richter Pharmacy owned by the Hungarian pharmaceutical group Gedeon Richter, Belladona (100), Remedia (90) owned by Valentin Norberts Tarus and Reteta (80) owned by Vonica family of Sibiu.

 

“According to our estimates, about 17% of drug stores in Romania belong to five of the largest pharmacy chains," PMR stated. "There are also smaller networks with strong regional position such as Ecofarmacia, active in Transylvania and Vlad Pharmacy, active in Timisoara."

 

According to the report, there were 34,200 drug stores across Central Europe, including Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia, 600 more than in 2013.