According to the findings of the Pharma & Hospital Report, Cegedim Customer Information estimates that, for the period from October 2025 to September 2026, the volume of medicines dispensed to patients in Romania reached 659.3 million packs, a 5.6% decrease compared to consumption during the period from October 2024 to September 2025.
The total number of treatment days saw a small decline (-1.0%), a figure influenced by trends in both the retail and hospital channels.
During the same period, the value of medicines dispensed to patients in Romania totaled 39.00 billion lei (7.56 billion euros) at the wholesale price (w/o VAT), an increase of 6.5% compared to the reference period. When isolating the impact of cost-volume-result (CVR) and cost-volume (CV) contracts, the value of prescription (Rx) medicines dispensed through public pharmacies rose by 9.3%, reaching a total of 20.86 billion lei (4.05 billion euros).
Market evolution in volume
In the third quarter of 2026, the total volume of medicines dispensed to patients reached 160.1 million packs, a 3.5% decrease compared to the third quarter of 2025 (based on a comparable market structure). This trend was driven by a 3.9% decline in the retail channel, while the hospital channel saw an increase of 5.7%. By segment, within public pharmacies, the volume growth rate was 0.5% for prescription medicines and -11.7% for OTC products (medicines and nutritional supplements).
For the period from October 2025 to September 2026, the total volume of medicine consumption stood at 659.3 million units, down 5.6% from the consumption recorded between October 2024 and September 2025. The volume of prescription (Rx) medicines in pharmacies reached 411.1 million packs, a 1.4% decrease, while the volume of OTC products in pharmacies totaled 217.1 million packs (-13.3%). The volume of medicines in hospitals reached 31.1 million packs, an increase of 0.7% compared to the reference period.
Market evolution in Value
Despite a negative performance in terms of volume, the total value of medicines dispensed to patients in the third quarter of 2026 reached 10.07 billion lei, an increase of 9.4% compared to the third quarter of 2025. This growth was driven by a 7.9% rise in retail medicines and a 16.8% increase in medicines dispensed within hospitals. Within the retail channel, growth rates (in lei) were +12.6% for prescription (Rx) drugs and -6.3% for over-the-counter (OTC) products. Prescription medicines in retail pharmacies, excluding those covered by cost-volume or cost-volume-result contracts, recorded an increase of 10.8% compared to the third quarter of 2025.
For the period from October 2025 to September 2026, the total market value reached 39.00 billion lei, an increase of 6.5% over the reference period. Prescription (Rx) medicines in pharmacies accounted for 25.01 billion lei (+10.7%), over-the-counter products in pharmacies totaled 7.49 billion lei (-7.9%), and the hospital segment reached 6.50 billion lei (+10.4%).
When isolating the significant impact of cost-volume-result (CVR) and cost-volume (CV) programs in the retail sector, which amounted to 4.15 billion lei, the market for prescription (Rx) medicines (w/o CV/CVR) sold through pharmacies grew by 9.3% compared to the reference period, reaching a value of 20.86 billion lei (4.05 billion euros).
Main players in the local pharmaceutical market – 3rd quarter 2026
In terms of volume, the ranking of the top three corporations in the third quarter of 2026 remains the same as in the previous quarter: Sun Pharma (including Terapia) holds the top spot with 17.5 million units, followed by Zentiva (including Labormed and Alvogen) with 12.9 million units, and Servier (including Egis) with 11.8 million units. In terms of value, the ranking of the top 3 corporations in the third quarter of 2026 remains unchanged: AstraZeneca holds the top spot with 623.6 million lei, followed by SunPharma (including Terapia) with 439.8 million lei, and Zentiva (including Labormed and Alvogen) with 371.0 million lei.
To consult the complete information on the Romanian pharmaceutical market evolution in the second quarter of 2026, as well as the top players in this market during the same period, access directly our press release.
Pharma & Hospital Report, a reference study in the analysis of the pharmaceutical market in Romania, has been carried out since 1996.
