Parallel Import of Medicines Saves Polish Patients PLN 600 Million Annually. Industry Calls for Simpler Rules and Greater Share of Reimbursed Drugs.
Parallel import of medicines brings average annual savings of PLN 600 million — a total of PLN 3.6 billion over the past six years, most of which stays in the pockets of patients, according to a report by the Association of Parallel Importers of Medicinal Products (SIRPL). The organization emphasizes that these savings could be even greater — both for patients and the public healthcare budget — if administrative procedures were simplified and the share of reimbursed medicines in parallel imports increased.
What Is Parallel Import?
“Parallel import means bringing into Poland the same medicines already available to patients here, but purchased in other EU countries where they are sold at a lower price. The benefits are obvious — cheaper medicines and improved availability, as this provides an alternative source of supply, especially in situations where some drugs are in short supply on the Polish market,”
explains Tomasz Dzitko, President of the Association of Parallel Importers of Medicinal Products (SIRPL), in an interview with Newseria Biznes.
“For Polish pharmacists, access to medicines — including those from parallel import — has become a key element of daily work. Due to growing drug shortages, a problem not only in Poland but across Europe and globally, this model of distribution is an important part of supplying pharmacies. What’s more, it often has a positive impact on prices. It’s a highly beneficial market solution that improves access to hard-to-find medicines for Polish patients,”
adds Dr. Mikołaj Konstanty, Vice President of the Supreme Pharmaceutical Chamber (NIA).
Parallel import has been part of the European Union’s pharmaceutical market for 50 years, and in Poland since 2004. The process is fully legal, safe, and regulated by both EU and national law. It involves importing original medicines made by the same manufacturer, repackaged according to strict standards — but offered at a lower price.
“These are mostly prescription drugs, which are truly essential for patients. If they can be sold cheaper and safely, everyone benefits,”
notes Dzitko.
PLN 3.6 Billion Saved in Six Years
According to a report by IQVIA, prepared for SIRPL, parallel import saved PLN 723 million in 2024 alone. Over the past six years, the annual average has been around PLN 600 million — equivalent to the cost of funding a nationwide IVF program or providing gene therapy for children with SMA, the report points out.
Experts calculated that every PLN 1 generated in the parallel import segment creates PLN 1.18 in savings for the healthcare system.
“The market is developing well, with more drugs being introduced every year. However, most of them are non-reimbursed, meaning that the savings we generate go directly to patients. Only a small number of parallel-imported medicines are listed for reimbursement, and that’s the real issue — if more were included, the National Health Fund (NFZ) could also benefit from substantial savings,”
stresses Dzitko.
Parallel Import Still a Marginal Part of the Market
Parallel import currently accounts for about 0.25% of all reimbursed drugs and only 1% of the overall pharmaceutical market. In comparison, the share is eight times higher in Germany and twenty times higher in Denmark.
“We hope the Ministry of Health will respond to our proposals — to simplify the process of listing parallel-imported drugs for reimbursement, to create a separate legal definition for importers, since we are currently classified as either generic or innovative medicines, though we are neither, and to remove certain administrative barriers that are difficult to meet because we are importers, not manufacturers,”
says Dzitko.
Industry and Patients Call for Simplified Procedures
In a joint appeal to the Ministry of Health, SIRPL, patient organizations, and representatives of the pharmaceutical sector emphasized the need to streamline and shorten administrative procedures, which currently hinder the development of the parallel import market.
Under the existing legal framework, importers must guarantee continuous drug supply when submitting applications for reimbursement listing — a requirement often impossible to fulfill.
“Importers are concerned that they might not be able to ensure continuous availability of a reimbursed drug because we are not its manufacturer. The supplier in another EU country could raise prices, withdraw the product, or ban its export — and that’s beyond our control. Yet the penalty for supply interruptions is severe,”
explains Dzitko.
Ensuring Drug Security for Polish Patients
According to Dr. Mikołaj Konstanty from the NIA, expanding parallel import is essential to strengthening pharmaceutical security in Poland.
“Having access to parallel imports gives pharmacists and patients a greater sense of security. It’s a necessary distribution channel that ensures continuous access to essential drugs. Today, drug availability is a matter of national security — medicines can even become a political weapon. Countries that fail to secure diverse supply sources risk putting their citizens’ health at risk. Without multiple supply channels, our drug security could be compromised,”
emphasizes Dr. Konstanty.
Source: CEO.com.pl – “Parallel Import of Medicines Saves Polish Patients PLN 600 Million Annually”
