Number of Pharmacies
In Estonia, there are three types of pharmacies: general pharmacies, hospital pharmacies and veterinary pharmacies. Pharmacies may have branch pharmacies and a pharmacy-bus as structural units. Licensed general pharmacies can also offer the e-pharmacy service.
NO OF PHARMACIES IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR
|
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
General pharmacies |
498 |
479 |
475 |
476 |
472 |
Hospital pharmacies |
24 |
24 |
23 |
23 |
24 |
Veterinary pharmacies |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Number of inhabitants per pharmacy,
in the beginning of 2023 in major cities and counties compared to the Estonian average
General Pharmacies
TURNOVER OF GENERAL PHARMACIES IN 2019–2023
The turnover of prescription medicines can in turn be divided into turnover of medicines reimbursed by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund (EHIF) or not. In 2023, the turnover of reimbursed medicines increased by 11% compared to the previous year. The share of patient and the Health Fund was 23% and 77%, respectively.
TURNOVER OF REIMBURSED MEDICINES IN GENERAL PHARMACIES IN 2019–2023
In 2022, 11.6 million prescriptions were handled in general pharmacies. The prescriptions reimbursed by EHIF has the largest proportion (9.8 million prescriptions), and the number of prescriptions without discounts was 1.7 million.
e-PHARMACY-MARKET 2021–2023
Estonian Pharmacy-market (million euros) |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
||
|
Turnover of general pharmacies |
461 |
506 |
542 |
||
|
Turnover of other products |
138 |
147 |
149 |
||
|
Turnover of medicines |
323 |
359 |
393 |
||
|
Turnover of non-prescription medicines |
63 |
75 |
75 |
||
|
Turnover of prescription medicines |
259 |
283 |
317 |
||
|
Estonian e-Pharmacy-market (million euros) |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
||
|
Turnover of e-pharmacies |
8.7 |
10.3 |
12.6 |
||
|
Turnover of other products |
6.8 |
7.6 |
9.6 |
||
|
Turnover of medicines |
1.9 |
2.7 |
3.0 |
||
|
Turnover of non-prescription medicines |
0.8 |
1.1 |
1.0 |
||
|
Turnover of prescription medicines |
1.1 |
1.6 |
2.0 |
||
Share of e-Pharmacies |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
||
|
Turnover of pharmacies |
1.9% |
2.0% |
2.3% |
||
|
Turnover of other products |
5.0% |
5.2% |
6.4% |
||
|
Turnover of medicines |
0.6% |
0.8% |
0.8% |
||
|
Turnover of non-prescription medicines |
1.2% |
1.4% |
1.4% |
||
|
Turnover of prescription medicines |
0.4% |
0.6% |
0.6% |
||
In 2023, 12 million prescriptions were handled in general pharmacies. The prescriptions reimbursed by EHIF has the largest proportion (10.2 million prescriptions), and the number of prescriptions without discounts was 1.8 million.
Prescriptions handled by general pharmacies in 2023
Hospital Pharmacies
In 2023, the total turnover of hospital pharmacies was 149 million euros, with an increase by 9% in total (calculated without VAT).
Turnover of hospital pharmacies in 2019–2023
Total Expenditure on Medicines
The turnover of medicines in general and hospital pharmacies was 504 million euros, in 2023. The expenditure on medicines per inhabitant per year was 369 euros in total. The average amount spent by an inhabitant of Estonia on medicines was 129 euros per year. Compared to the previous year, the expenditure on prescription medicines increased 8% and the expenditure on non-prescription medicines decreased 3%.
EXPENDITURE ON MEDICINES PER INHABITANT PER YEAR, IN 2019–2023
Last updated: 28.03.2024