Two more pharma firms throw their hat into the ring

The move follows yesterday's announcement that the current system will be scrapped. DHD Poland and Pretium Farm both say they have competitive offers that they think will attract drug manufacturers to sign contracts with them. DHD's scheme would provide a series of services between the producers and pharmacists, not just limited to distribution. The guarantee behind this venture is the company's investor, an international logistics group UTI Worldwide. "The project requires financial expenditures as well as specific knowledge. The cost of preparing the logistic side and building the customer base is estimated in dozens of millions of USD," said DHD's head of management board, Rafał Czyżewski. On the other hand, Pretium Farm belongs to publicly listed pharmaceutical wholesaler Torfarm. The company's sales margin does not exceed 3%, and Torfarm already claims to be offering 4,000 pharmacies drugs cheaper by some 7-18%. (Puls Biznesu, p. 6) A.K.