European Healthcare Expenditure on Over-The-Counter Medicines by Country

In 2023, Bosnia and Herzegovina led the European countries in healthcare expenditure on over-the-counter (OTC) medicines at 12.09% of total health expenditure, showing a 1.89% increase year-on-year from the previous year. Poland and Romania also saw positive growth in OTC expenditure. In contrast, Latvia and Croatia experienced the most significant year-on-year declines at -11.66% and -11.8%, respectively. The United Kingdom, Spain, and Germany also recorded slight decreases in their OTC medicine expenditures.

Over the last two years, many countries like Cyprus experienced significant increases in their expenditure, suggesting different healthcare priorities and potential changes in consumer behavior. However, countries such as Luxembourg, Iceland, Switzerland, and Finland have shown a consistent decline in their OTC healthcare spending.

Future trends to watch for include:

• Potential increases in OTC expenditure in emerging European markets driven by rising self-medication practices.
• Broader adoption of digital health solutions may alter the expenditure patterns on OTC medicines.
• Healthcare policy changes across countries could lead to shifts in budget allocation towards or away from OTC medicines.
• Economic factors and consumer confidence will continue to influence OTC purchasing behaviors.