New laws will protect existing pharmacies but may thwart competition

The bill states that any one entity can only have a 1% market share in any one voivodship, which will significantly hamper the development of pharmacy networks. The proposed regulations also prohibit the establishment of sub-pharmacies in villages where a pharmacy already exists. "This is an important compromise that will save domestic industry and chemists from bankruptcy," said Andrzej Wróbel, the head of the Polish Pharmaceutical Chamber. However, opponents to the plans claim it will reduce competition and result in price increases. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B4, Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 4) E.B.