13:30 22 August 2026
Poland buys drugs mainly in Europe, and Europe supplies itself from Asia
Poland’s pharmaceutical supply chain relies heavily on Europe for finished medicines but remains deeply dependent on Asia for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). A new “Drug Dependency Map” shows that while Germany, Hungary, Belgium, Austria, France, and the Netherlands dominate imports of finished drugs, many essential ingredients come from China, India, and South Korea. In some categories, Asian suppliers account for more than 75% of imports, and in extreme cases nearly 100%. Examples include ephedrine, with 86% sourced from India, and prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes, more than 99% supplied by South Korea and China.
The report warns of a “double dependency,” as European drug manufacturers themselves often rely on Asian inputs, creating supply-chain risks for Polish patients.
