Sales of OTC drugs returned to growth in the first three monthsof this year, with a 9.6% plus in euros, from a similar declinelast year. The increase came as in terms of units both 2009 and thefirst quarter of 2010, saw a decline. Under the circumstances, theincrease in value can only be explained through sales of moreexpensive products. OTC drug prices are not regulated by the HealthMinistry and hence they are extremely appealing to distributors anddrugstores. Producers say they have not raised prices over the pastyear, so that the possible increases could only come from hikesoperated by distributors and drugstores. On the other hand,drugstores say they have not embraced a price hike policy, butthere are punctual situations generated by the exchange rate trendand producers' policy. "(...) We consider the times are notfavourable for an overall increase in OTC drug prices.Nevertheless, in Romania OTC drugs' prices are higher than in otherEuropean countries because this is the product category on thebasis of which drugstores can survive financially," said therepresentatives of Sensiblu, the biggest domestic drugstorenetwork.
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