The retail pharmaceutical market in Pakistan reached Rs. 1.251 trillion in FY26, posting value growth of 14.88 per cent from a year earlier, although medicine volumes rose by less than 1.0 per cent, data compiled by the pharmaceutical industry and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) said.
The latest market assessment places the retail drug business at about $4.45 billion and shows that sales growth continued to outpace the increase in packs and units sold, reflecting price adjustments, new product introductions, and a shift towards higher-value medicines.
The market was valued at Rs. 1.089 trillion in the corresponding 12-month period ending June 2025, compared with Rs. 918.22 billion in June 2024 and Rs. 655.02 billion in June 2022. This represents a compound annual growth rate of 17.55 per cent over four years.
However, the total number of medicine units sold rose only 0.93 per cent to 3.80 billion during the latest 12 months, from 3.765 billion a year earlier. Industry officials said the slow volume growth underlined the pressure on household purchasing power and the widening cost of treatment for patients.
National pharmaceutical companies retained their dominant position, accounting for Rs. 998.54 billion, or nearly 80 per cent, of the market. Their sales grew 16.53 per cent, faster than the overall industry rate.
Multinational companies recorded sales of Rs. 252.13 billion, a 20 per cent share, with growth of 8.76 per cent. Their unit sales, however, declined 6.16 per cent to 794 million, while national companies’ volumes increased 2.98 per cent to 3.006 billion units.
The market’s growth rate has moderated from the high double-digit increases seen in earlier periods. Value growth stood at 22.4 per cent in FY24, declined to 18.56 per cent by FY25, and further eased to 14.88 per cent by FY26.
Quarterly sales reached Rs. 316 billion during April-June 2026, up 15.04 per cent from the same quarter of the preceding year. Volume growth during the quarter was 1.49 per cent.
The industry recorded its highest-ever monthly retail sales in October 2025, when the market touched Rs. 110.89 billion. Sales remained above Rs. 100 billion in several subsequent months, including December 2025, March 2026, April 2026, and June 2026.
A total of 102 pharmaceutical companies crossed Rs. 1 billion in annual retail sales and together controlled 96.63 per cent of the market, according to the assessment. Eight companies had sales above Rs. 40 billion and jointly held a 37.89 per cent market share.
These leading companies were Getz Pharma, Abbott, Sami Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Martin Dow, Hilton Pharma, High-Q, and OBS. Their combined sales were estimated at Rs. 474 billion, though their growth of 10.82 per cent was below the overall market rate.
Another 22 companies with sales above Rs. 10 billion accounted for Rs. 475 billion, or 37.97 per cent of the market. Their growth was 12.25 per cent, while 17 firms in the Rs. 5 billion-plus category collectively held a 9.27 per cent share and recorded growth of 23.55 per cent.
Among national companies, Getz Pharma remained the largest, with retail sales of Rs. 85.27 billion and annual growth of 19.33 per cent. Sami Pharmaceuticals followed with Rs. 69.23 billion, while Martin Dow recorded Rs. 52 billion, Hilton Pharma Rs. 46.6 billion, and High-Q Rs. 43 billion.
Ferozsons Laboratories was among the faster-growing large local companies, with sales increasing 33.18 per cent to Rs. 20.98 billion. PharmEvo grew 24.45 per cent to Rs. 24.66 billion, while CCL grew 21.26 per cent to Rs. 32.22 billion.
Abbott remained the largest multinational company, reporting Rs. 70.08 billion in retail sales, followed by GSK at Rs. 64.83 billion and Haleon at Rs. 38.64 billion. Nestle’s pharmaceutical and nutrition-related retail business grew 32.41 per cent to Rs. 22.84 billion.
The assessment also showed rapid growth in the new-medicine segment. A total of 989 products were launched in the 12 months ending June 2026, excluding certain diagnostic and miscellaneous categories, with national companies launching 982 products and multinationals seven.
These new launches generated sales of Rs. 19.18 billion, equivalent to 1.53 per cent of the total retail pharmaceutical market.
The post Pharma Sales Hit Record Rs. 1.251 Trillion, Yet Pakistanis Buy Fewer Medicines appeared first on ProPakistani.