Based on the findings of the Pharma & Hospital Report, Cegedim Customer Information estimates that between April 2025 and March 2026 the volume of medicines dispensed to patients in Romania totaled 680.1 million units, 3.7% less than the dispensed volumes between April 2024 and March 2025.
The total number of treatment days remained stable (+0.3%), driven by a 0.4% increase in retail, while the number of hospital treatment days decreased by 2.7%.
At the same time, the value of medicines dispensed to patients in Romania increased by 8.0%, reaching RON 37.74 billion (EUR 7.44 billion) at the wholesale price level. Isolating the impact of the CVR and CV programs, the value of prescription medicines in retail pharmacies increased by 10.7% compared to the previous year, amounting to RON 19.97 billion (EUR 3.94 billion).
Pharma market evolution in Volume
In the 1st quarter of 2026, the total volume of medicines dispensed to patients reached 166.1 million units, marking an 8.3% decrease compared to the same quarter in 2025 (like-for-like market definition). This negative growth was mainly driven by an 8.6% fall in the retail channel, while hospital dispensations remained stable (+0.3%). Analyzing the segments, prescription medications in pharmacies decreased by 3.0%, whereas over-the-counter (OTC) products, which include both OTC drugs and nutritional supplements, fell severely by 17.4%.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, the total volume of medicines and food supplements dispensed to Romanian patients reached 680.1 million units, 3.7% less than the dispensing volume between April 2024 and March 2025. Prescription-based medicines (Rx) from pharmacies decreased to 413.7 million units (-1.4%), while over-the-counter (OTC) products in pharmacies totaled 236.2 million units, a moderate decrease of 7.6% from the reference period. Also, the hospital segment decreased by 3.4%, accounting for 30.3 million units.
Pharma market evolution in Value
Despite the negative performance in volume, the total value of medicines dispensed to patients amounted to RON 9.48 billion lei, in the 1st quarter of 2026, 3.7% up compared to the 1st quarter of 2025. This growth was driven by a 3.1% increase in the retail sector and a 7.6% increase in hospital dispensations. Within the retail channel, the value of prescription (Rx) medicines rose by 9.2%, while over-the-counter (OTC) products decreased by 12.6%. The Rx medicines in retail, other than those assigned to cost-volume and cost-volume-result contracts, advanced by 9.9% compared to the 1st quarter of 2025.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, the total market value reached RON 37.74 billion, reflecting an 8.0% increase compared to the period from April 2024 to March 2025. Prescription-based medicines (Rx) from pharmacies generated RON 23.75 billion, marking a 10.9% rise, the over-the-counter (OTC) products totaled RON 7.9 billion, marking a 1.0% decrease, while the hospital segment contributed RON 6.08 billion, demonstrating an important rise of 9.5%.
When isolating the substantial effects of the CVR and CV programs, which amounted to RON 3.78 billion, the value of prescription medicines in retail pharmacies increased by 10.7% from the reference period, reaching RON 19.97 billion (EUR 3.94 billion).
Main players in the local pharmaceutical market – first quarter 2026
In the first quarter of 2026, the ranking of the top 3 corporations by volume remained unchanged. Sun Pharma (including Terapia) maintained its lead with 18.2 million units, followed by Zentiva (including Labormed and Alvogen) with 14.6 million units, and Servier (including Egis) with 11.3 million units.
In the first quarter of 2026, the top three hierarchy by value hasn’t changed vs the previous quarter. AstraZeneca maintained the leading position with RON 554.4 million, followed by Sun Pharma (RON 451.9 million, including Terapia) and Zentiva (including Labormed and Alvogen) with RON 381.4 million.
To consult the complete information on the Romanian pharmaceutical market evolution in the first quarter of 2026, as well as the top players in this market during the same period, access directly our press release.
We also invite you to consult an executive summary of the study for the mentioned period, with graphical representations of the data presented in our article.
Pharma & Hospital Report, a reference study in the analysis of the pharmaceutical market in Romania, has been carried out since 1996.
