The Estonian pharmaceutical market is expected to reach half a billion euros this year (456 million euros in 2023). Four years ago, changes called the pharmacy reform came into force. The changes were intended to ensure that millions from the ever-growing pharmaceutical market would not go to just two businessmen. The results of audits and revelations published by the Competition Board and the economic daily Äripäev during this year show that the pharmacy reform has not brought the results it was intended to. On the contrary, pharmaceutical wholesalers have an even more dominant position in the market. Wholesalers use the pharmacies under their influence to support their reimbursement schemes, thus earning tens of millions of euros on top of their already large market share.
