Statistics on Veterinary Medicines

WHOLESALERS

In 2021, 9 wholesalers sold veterinary medicines to veterinarians, to general and veterinary pharmacies and to other institutions. Three major wholesalers covered 93% of the total veterinary medicinal products market: Zoovetvaru OÜ (48%), Magnum Veterinaaria AS (34%) and Dimedium AS (11%). The total veterinary market share of the other wholesalers remained under 7%.

VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS MARKET

The veterinary medicinal products market is expressed in wholesale prices, which includes the price of the manufacturer and wholesaler’s mark-up and does not include the VAT.

In 2021 the veterinary medicinal products market increased 3.4%, reaching to 16.55 million euros.

Figure 1. Estonian veterinary products market in 2017–2021

Sales to the veterinary doctors or to the agricultural companies represented by veterinary doctor covered 92% (15.2 million euros) of the total veterinary medicinal products market in 2021. Over 6% (1.0 million euros) of veterinary medicines were sold to the general pharmacies, and 2% (0.3 million euros) to the veterinary pharmacies. Sales to the other institutions remained under 1%.

VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS MARKET SHARE BETWEEN ATCvet GROUPS

Based on ATCvet classification three largest ATCvet groups covered 65% of total veterinary medicinal products market: antiparasitic products (QP) 24% (3.9 million euros), antiinfectives (QJ) 21% (3.5 million euros) and immunologicals QI) 20% (3.3 million euros), followed by alimentary tract and metabolism (QA) and musculo-sceletal system (QM).

Figure 2. Estonian veterinary medicinal products market share between ATCvet groups in 2017–2021

Antiparasitic Products

The turnover of antiparasitic products increased steadily and reached the highest turnover with 3.9 million euros in 2021. Ectoparasiticides, insecticides and repellents (QP53) had the highest turnover, reaching to 1.8 million euros in 2021 (46% of the turnover of antiparasitic products). The turnover of endectocides was 1.0 million euros (27%). The turnover of anthelmintics has been the most stable over the years, 0.7 million euros (17%) in 2020. The turnover of anti-protozoal substances has been the lowest in recent years, accounting for 10% of the turnover of antiparasitic products.

Figure 3. Turnover of antiparasitic products in 2017–2021

Antiinfectives for Systemic Use

Turnover of antiinfectives

The turnover of antiinfectives was 3.5 million euros in 2021. The most sold antibacterials for systemic use by turnover were pleuromutilins (QJ01XQ), 3rd-generation cephalosporins (QJ01DD), tetracyclines (QJ01AA), fluoroquinolones (QJ01MA) and penicillins with extended spectrum (QJ01CA).

Figure 4. Turnover of most sold antibacterials in 2017–2021

 The amount of sold antiinfectives by active ingredient

The amount of active ingredients sold in 2021 decreased by 5.6% compared to the previous year, reaching to 6.4 tons. The use of antimicrobial classes included in the Category B of the AMEG categorisation – critically important antibiotics in human medicine – has decreased in 2021: sales of polymyxins by 29%, sales of 3rd- and 4th- generation cephalosporins by 25%, sales of fluoroquinolones by 20%.

Figure 5. Antibiotics for veterinary use in 2017–2021

Of the overall sales of antimicrobials in 2021, tetracyclines, penicillins and pleuromutilins accounted for the largest amounts.

Figure 6. Antimicrobials by classes in 2021

More than fifty different active ingredients of antibiotics are used for veterinary purposes in Estonia. The most sold active ingredients were doxycycline, amoxicillin and tiamulin.

Table 1. The most sold active ingredients (antibiotics) in 2017–2021 (sold in kilograms)

IMMUNOLOGICALS

In 2017–2021, the turnover of immunologicals (vaccines) remained between 2.6–3.3 million euros. 49% of immunologicals sold in 2021 were immunologicals for suidae, reaching 1.6 million euros, following by immunologicals for bovidae (21%) and for canidae (15%).

Figure 7. Turnover of immunologicals in 2017–2021

HUMAN MEDICINES FOR VETERINARY USE

In the absence of authorised veterinary medicine, veterinarian can use authorised human medicine if necessary. In 2021, the most sold human medicines for veterinary use were drugs for sensory organs, followed by drugs for blood and blood forming organs and for alimentary tract.

Figure 8. Human medicines sales for veterinary use in 2021