Efforts to introduce more generic medicines and the removal of some drugs from the basic health insurance coverage will help drive down turnover at the nation’s pharmacies by €500m this year.

Last year, pharmacies dispensed drugs totalling €5bn, but that is likely to be €4.5bn this year, according to the sector’s SFK institute.
Spending on pharmacies has fallen steadily over the past 12 years as the result of government policy. In addition, many more expensive drugs are now issued by hospitals directly.