PATTERNS OF OTC USE IN THE NETHERLANDS

Although the non-prescription market in the Netherlands has been difficult to monitor in the past due to the large number of non-registered products, a new report from Neprofarm, the newly-formed Dutch nonprescription drug manufacturers association, has provided some up-to-date data on the sector.

In 1992, the total over-the-counter pharmaceutical market in Holland was worth 377.7 million guilders (around $210 million), a rise of 6.4% over the 1991 level. Neprofarm believes there is still a great deal of growth potential in a country where, according to surveys, over 70% of people are unwilling to use OTC medication. The following table breaks down the OTC sales by category.

OTC Category Market Growth List V Drugs 167.7 4.8% Pharmacy-only medicines 71.9 4.2% Unregistered drugs 138.1 9.6% Total Market 377.7 6.4%