Lisbon, April 14, 2025 (Lusa) - The sale of medicines in Portugal grew by 4.7% in 2024, reaching € 3.4 billion, also as a result of an increase in the number of packs sold, which rose by 4.9%, according to data released today by Informa D&B.

According to a sectoral analysis by the consultancy, the figure - calculated at retail prices - "was particularly driven by sales of generic medicines", which, with a 16% rise, increased their total weight to 26%.

In 2024, 193 million packs of medicines were sold in Portugal, up 4.9% on a figure that includes orders from the Health Service.

The 37 main companies in the pharmaceutical distribution sector had 2,027 workers in 2024, an average of 55 employees per company.

In this sense, the consultancy notes that it is a sector in which "small companies predominate, with only six employing more than 50 workers in 2023".

The sector saw an increase in the number of workers for the first time since 2018 and is most localised in the districts of Lisbon (16 companies) and Porto (seven companies).

JO/ADB // ADB.

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