Less than one-third of the medicines sold in Poland are produced domestically, while the European average stands at approximately 70%. Dependence on imports poses a significant threat to pharmaceutical security. To strengthen this sector, one of the competitions under the National Recovery Plan (KPO), recently decided by the Medical Research Agency, aims to support innovation. A total of PLN 112 million will be allocated to 22 projects in the field of biomedical technologies, including one focused on developing generic drugs for the treatment of COPD and asthma.
A Heavy Dependence on Imports
“Last year, the National Health Fund reimbursed 416 million packages of medicines from pharmacies, of which only 122 million came from Polish factories. This means that roughly 70% of the medicines we use must be imported. The higher and more complex the technology, the greater the dependence on imports,” says Sebastian Szymanek, CEO of Polpharma, in an interview with Newseria. “We are talking about investment barriers, which include both the funds required for product development and the highly advanced technology and specialized production lines necessary for manufacturing.”
In 2020, Poland’s pharmaceutical sovereignty index stood at 0.32, meaning that only 32% of domestic demand could be met with local production. The European median is 0.7, but some countries, such as Switzerland and Ireland, produce up to eight times more medicine than their domestic markets require. In the UK, the Netherlands, and Spain, the index is closer to 1.
“In Poland, we have reached a point where we recognize how dependent we are on imports and understand that pharmaceutical security is not guaranteed. This is the first fundamental step. Now, we need to decide which technologies we want to support as a country and launch funding initiatives that encourage investment in research, development, and, ultimately, local drug production. This is just the beginning,” Szymanek adds.
Government Funding for Pharmaceutical Innovation
To address pharmaceutical security and foster innovative therapies and future medicines, the Medical Research Agency recently announced the winners of a competition aimed at entrepreneurs. A total of PLN 112 million from the KPO will be allocated to 22 projects. Among the beneficiaries is Polpharma, whose project focuses on developing and producing inhalable generic drugs for treating respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma. Generic drugs play a crucial role in increasing treatment accessibility for Polish patients, as they are often several times cheaper than original medicines.
“Today, Poland produces very few drugs for treating asthma and COPD. That’s why, several years ago, we decided to develop two such products. Each combines two active ingredients, which are currently still under patent protection. The project has three stages: first, developing the drug combination; second, creating the inhaler and proving its bioequivalence; and third, investing in and acquiring the necessary technological lines to manufacture these drugs domestically. Our goal is to have these medicines available to Polish patients when the patents expire in March and November 2029,” Szymanek explains.
Building Pharmaceutical Sovereignty
Another key aspect of the initiative is reducing dependence on imported drugs for widespread diseases. According to the National Health Fund, one in five people over 40 in Poland suffers from COPD, translating to around 2 million patients. A similar number of Poles are affected by asthma, regardless of age.
The European Union has also recognized its over-reliance on imported medicines, particularly active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used in drug production. Recently, Adam Jarubas, Chairman of the European Public Health Committee, emphasized the need to finalize the pharmaceutical package as a priority.
“Looking at the ongoing debate about Europe’s pharmaceutical security, it’s clear that the EU is already a step ahead of us. Some countries have not only recognized the problem but have also launched significant funding initiatives and projects to gradually restore pharmaceutical independence. However, this is a long-term challenge. We have been outsourcing our pharmaceutical security for decades, and reversing this trend will take just as long,” says Szymanek.
COVID-19 as a Wake-Up Call
According to Szymanek, the COVID-19 pandemic served as a turning point.
“During the pandemic, it became painfully evident across Europe how reliant we are on imports from Asia. Medicines are not just commercial products; they are strategic and political tools. The first response during the crisis was the imposition of export bans,” he recalls.
The recent funding initiatives and growing awareness of the need for pharmaceutical sovereignty mark an important step forward. However, as experts warn, achieving self-sufficiency in drug production will require consistent investment and long-term strategic planning.
