The coronavirus attacked pharmacies

According to the National Debt Register data, at the end of April 2020 2.6 thousand pharmacies had liabilities of 107.9 million PLN. On average, each pharmacy has debts of 40 thousand PLN, but the record holders have 2.9 million PLN of debt. 87% of indebted pharmacies are business activities conducted by natural persons.

Small and micro-entrepreneurs have much greater liquidity problems than larger pharmacy operators. Their pharmacies are often located in less frequented areas. The situation of pharmacies is also influenced by their considerable number. On average, there are 2.6 thousand people per pharmacy in Poland and 4.3 thousand people in the European Union. As well as low margins on products sold.

The analysis of PEX PharmaSequence data shows that during the coronavirus epidemic the number of people visiting pharmacies decreased by about 5 million per week. This translates directly into pharmacy revenues, with fixed operating costs. The situation of pharmacies is not improved by the possibility of issuing an electronic prescription by a doctor, because patients instead of going to the pharmacy at the clinic go to a pharmacy near their place of residence or do online shopping.

Source: www.rp.pl/Farmacja/305259887-Wirus-zainfekowal-apteki-Co-czwarta-moze-zniknac.html