Pharmaceutical sales in Serbia exceed EUR 2.2 billion – Prescription therapies see the highest growth

Last year, sales of medicines and medical devices in Serbia exceeded EUR 2.2 billion, amounting to more than EUR 300 per capita.

This figure does not include supplements purchased independently by citizens. The highest growth, as much as 15%, was recorded in prescription medicines, specifically therapies for oncology patients and for nervous system and metabolic disorders.

Latest therapies arriving

As the nation ages, the need for medicines grows. According to the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency, the 5,146 registered medicines, including some of the newest and most expensive therapies, are sufficient to meet all patient needs.

The goal is also to include as many medicines for rare diseases as possible on the list.

– Pharmaceutical companies are now coming to Serbia, and our patients are receiving the latest therapies and have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials. We must not overlook that either. There are currently around 349 clinical trials for human medicines underway in Serbia – says Pavle Zelic of the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency.

Meeting EU standards

The path to a new medicine is long and costly. Data from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia shows that about 80% of pharmaceutical company investments go toward equipment. Nearly 90% of these companies report funding themselves through their own resources.

– We have invested hundreds of millions over the past few years, and we have just received approval from the STADA Global Executive Board to invest an additional EUR 20 million in Vrsac. This will allow us to increase production and build new facilities, and I believe this demonstrates our commitment to the future – says Peter Goldschmidt, CEO of the STADA Group.

Manufacturers of pharmaceutical products and preparations are major importers due to their reliance on raw materials, but they are also major exporters.

Last year, the figure reached nearly EUR 1 billion, a 30.2% increase, representing 2.8% of total exports. Medicines from Vrsac alone are shipped to more than 100 countries.

– In Serbia, we do not merely manufacture products of a quality suitable for Germany, which maintains the highest quality standards, but everything we produce here meets European Union standards – says Peter Goldschmidt.

Dangerous counterfeit medicines

Counterfeit medicines, however, represent a global problem. According to World Health Organization estimates, this black market generates an annual turnover of around USD 460 billion.

Pavle Zelic notes that substances such as rat poison, antifreeze, brick dust, and road paint have been found in counterfeit medicines.

– These are materials counterfeiters used to mimic the appearance of the tablets, though, naturally, they contain no active ingredients, and for patients for whom this was a last resort and a chance at survival, it can amount to a death sentence – says Zelic.

Counterfeit Ozempic was previously discovered in Serbia, alongside more than 3,000 advertisements offering “miracle” supplements.

This figure is lower than it was a few years ago, confirming that countermeasures are yielding results.

The agency urges citizens to avoid buying medicines online or via social media, as the best form of prevention is to steer clear of such sources.

Agencija za lekove i medicinska sredstva Srbije

Medicines and Medical Devices Agency of Serbia

Stada Group

Pavle Zelić

Peter Goldschmidt