Help Net, operating a network of around 80 pharmacies, derived turnover worth 25 million euros in the first nine months of this year, 70% higher than the turnover seen during the whole of last year.
"This year''s turnover surge is partly due to the sale of cosmetic products and para-pharmaceuticals, which rose about 3.5 times in comparison to 2004," said Isabelle Iacob, general manager of Help Net, without specifying the value of these sales or their weight in relation to total turnover. Last year, Help Net saw sales of about 15 million euros from their chain of around 50 already opened pharmacies.
The tendency for pharmacy operators to boost their sales of cosmetics and para-pharmaceuticals has been felt on the entire market, given that additional mark-ups linked to prescription drugs are limited by regulations in the domain, and with the health system having experienced a crisis since the beginning of the year.
"We have carried on with our investment plans in line with our initial development plans. We believe in Romania''s impending integration in the European Union, and this is why we are confident that this draft law, on pharmacies, will not be adopted under the initial formula," Iacob also stated.
In line with the draft law promoted by the Health Ministry, pharmacy chains will only be allowed to hold one pharmacy for every 100,000 inhabitants in a locality. Should the draft law be adopted in the current form, pharmacy chains, defined as entities controlling more than 4 pharmacies, will have 6 months to abide by the new norms.
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