Romania's pharmaceuticals consumption, half the EU average

Romania’s pharmaceuticals market, including local consumption and exports, will reach EUR 2.3 billion this year, according to Iulian Trandafir, Executive Director at Farmexpert, a leading pharmaceuticals distributor. This statement was made during a press conference, where the company launched a new management book for pharmacists, which offers know-how to Romanian specialists from their American counterparts.

Eugen Banciu, Director at Farmexpert, mentioned studies results which predicted the pharma market will increase by 11 percent in 2012, but this projection did not take into consideration the new claw-back tax.

Iulian Trandafir, Executive Director, Farmexpert : “The claw-back tax is normal and necessary in any market. It should lead to an increase in the consumption rate, but the way in which it is formulated in our country, will also bolster the pharmaceuticals consumption, while producers will seek to market their products better. However, the lack of predictability creates an issue for all companies, as this law has two variables. One is the budget fundamental of the law, while the second issue is the concept of budget overriding, which will have to be paid by producers. Costs can’t be provisioned in this area, is like going with a car in the middle of the night with the lights out.”

“In Romania, around 80 percent in value is reserved for innovative pharmaceuticals, while in volume it only represents 20 percent. Thus 80 percent of the budget is consumed with only 20 percent of pharmaceutical products. Probably, a new treatment scheme should be designed that would use more generic pharmaceuticals, and would help all patients. At present, there are patients partially treated and some that are not treated at all”, added Trandafir.

Dumitru Lupuleasa, the president of the Pharmacists College in Romania, explained that the pharmaceuticals consumption per head of Romanian is EUR 200 per year, while the EU average is EUR 400. Lupuleasa added that the consumption of generic pharmaceuticals should increase, as Romania currently ranks 3rd in Europe on the mortality rate, as some disease is not treated at all. Around 8 million Romanians suffer of heart related disease, according to Lupuleasa.