THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PARALLEL IMPORTS OF PHARMACEUTICALS – An assessment of savings in Denmark in 2021

The practice of parallel imports of pharmaceuticals has taken place in Denmark and the rest of the EU since the 1970s. In 2021, parallel imports accounted for 16% of turnover in the Danish market for medicinal products. Parallel-imported pharmaceuticals are original pharmaceuticals imported from another EU/EEA country where they are cheaper than in Denmark. Hence, they are the same medicinal products as those sold by original manufacturers in Denmark.

The main conclusions of our study on the economic impact of parallel imports are:

• The total savings from parallel imports of pharmaceuticals in Denmark amounted to DKK 740 million in 2021
• Total savings correspond to 3% of the total expenditure on pharmaceuticals in Denmark, or an average saving on parallel-imported products of 16%
• Total savings have increased by DKK 130 million, corresponding to 21%, between 2018 and 2021

Download the report in English.

The study is commissioned by the Danish Association of Parallel Importers of Pharmaceuticals (Foreningen for Parallelimportører af Medicin).