Eurofarmacia calls it quits?

Eurofarmacia, a member of the VP Market Group, intends to sell its drugstores in Romania, sources on the pharmaceutical market say. When contacted by Ziarul Financiar, Dana Spanu, Eurofarmacia Romania”s office manager, did not care to provide any comment. The company officials had initially admitted they were indeed reorganising their pharmaceutical retail operations in Romania. Eurofarmacia has grown to be 10 drugstore-strong thus far. The drugstore market in Romania has been through a hectic time over the last few months due to both the problems caused by the payment system for the subsidised drugs, and to the preparation of the players for increased competition, because of the upcoming European Union accession. The start of the year was marked by a large number of takeovers of small independent drugstores by bigger competitors with more financial strength. Moreover, the interest of the foreign investors has intensified lately, with the first takeovers of drugstore chains by strategic investors expected to occur on the market by the end of next year.