The Market Quotes Powered By Forexpros, the Forex, Futures, and Stock Markets Portal.

So many pharmacies have been opened in since 2009 in different regions

Region	Number of new pharmacy 2009-2011	Number of Pharmacy 2011	Increase in percentage
Blekinge	5	17	42
Dalarna	6	41	17
Gotland	1	8	14
Gavlebourg	8	42	24
Halland	11	40	38
Jamtland	1	24	4
Jönköping	9	45	25
Kalmar	4	33	14
Kronoberg	9	30	43
Norrbotten	4	41	11
Region Skåne	43	146	42
Stockholm	85	244	53
Södermanland	7	31	29
Uppsala	13	41	46
Värmland	7	41	21
Västerbotten	4	45	10
Västernorrland	8	41	24
Västmanland	11	36	44
Region Västra Götaland	53	195	37
Orebro	9	39	30
Östergötland	15	62	32
Total	313	1242	34

Source: Swedish Pharmacy Association

Swedish pharmaceutical market getting tougher as pharmacies stretch hard to compete for customers

Friday, 23 March 2012
Two years ago due to intense pressure from the EU, the Swedish government allowed the operation of private pharmacies in Sweden, refracting from the domination of the Sate owned Apotek.

The first private pharmacies became common phenomenon in Sweden thereafter and there was intense hope that the market was good since it had been tapped only by one dominant player before. But things have not been as easy as early analysts and investors had thought. Although the number of pharmacies increased by one third, it turns out that the market is getting tougher as the pharmacies are not seeing the flood of customers they had though will come in. They are working harder to attract customer – something some government officials are happy about.

Social Affairs Minister, Göran Hägglund is satisfied with the reform, but is now looking at ways to increase availability.

“This has gone extremely well. More pharmacies and longer opening hours will make it easier for us as individuals to get the drugs we want, and it is something we all welcome”, says Göran Hägglund (Christian Democrats)

Some 313 more pharmacies have been established since deregulation, an increase of 34 percent. The opening hours have increased from 40 hours a week to 53 hours a week, according to a report from the Swedish Pharmacy Association.
But according to the managing director of that organisation, Johan Wallér, competition in the pharmacy market has more and more been fierce and he does not believe that many more stores will be open this year.
“I believe that growth will be cancelled and that we will have fewer pharmacy operators,” he says.

During the fall, the first pharmacy for this year went out of business in Sweden and several pharmacies already been closed.
By Scancomark.se Team

What do you think about this article or us? Please leave a comment. Thank you!