Introduction: South-eastern European socioeconomic transition followed by extensive health systems reforms has completely changed the pharmaceuticals market landscape in the region. Serbia, as the largest Western Balkans market, may serve as an example of such changes.
Methods: Descriptive trend analysis of national-level dispensing of medicines in Serbia 2004-2012 was performed.
Results: Total public health expenditure in Serbia increased sharply in less than a decade (€1,175,158,679 to €1,847,971,776); public spending on pharmaceuticals doubled (€339,279,304 to €742,013,976). Market growth was primarily driven by statins, novel platelet aggregation inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies and combined preparations indicated in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Conclusion: The pharmaceutical market of Serbia has undergone thorough and complete transformation from within. Serious crisis of medicine supply sustainability is currently shaking Balkan health systems due to increasing public debt worsened by global recession. More responsible reimbursement policy rooted in cost-effectiveness principle is needed in years to come.
Keywords: Serbia; Western Balkans; expenditure; pharmaceutical market; reimbursement; socioeconomic transition; transformation; trend.