30% less pharmacies in 5 years

According to Euler Hermes, the number of pharmacies on the Polish market will decrease by 30 percent in 5 years’ period. Such tendency is the result of chain pharmacies superseding small ones. However, many pharmacies take advantage of several reliefs prepared by drug-related companies. For example, drug distributors adjusted to the pharmacies’ financial situation and agreed on prolonged payment deadline. Drug wholesalers, on the other hand, accept longer crediting of the pharmacies being in a bad situation. The decreasing number of small pharmacies is also influenced by big competition, fewer customers and worse prices in comparison to chain pharmacies, says Grzegorz Hylewicz, president debt collector from Euler Hermes.