Pharmaceutical market to remain sluggish in 2004, upturn expected in 2005

According to Stefan Bogusławski the head of IMS Health, a company which specializes in researching the sector, the growth dynamics will not exceed 3% by the year's end. "This year, the value of the market will reach zł.13.5 billion taking into account producers' prices. The weak growth is a result of the changes on the list of refunded drugs. I expect drug sales to increase in 2005, when it should reach 5-10%," said Bogusławski. Back in June, market watchers expected that things would pick up to reach 8% growth by December. The stagnation has had a particular influence on producers of innovative drugs. Over the past six years the Health Ministry has not listed one innovative drug on the list of refunded medicines. (Puls Biznesu, 8) A.K.