After two years of slight decline, the self-medication market in France jumped 5.5% in volume and 7.1% in value, according to figures from Afipa, the association that represents manufacturers who produce and market health products available in pharmacies without a prescription.
This growth is closely linked to the flu epidemic at the start of 2015, which led to the purchase of medicines, food supplements and medical devices for the respiratory tract to the tune of 529 million euros. “On January 20, 2015, for example, the incidence of these pathologies was 77 per 100,000 people, whereas this year, on the same date, it was only 9 per 100,000”, explains Pascal Brossard, president of Afipa.
Medicines for colds and sore throat in the head
On the product side, drugs for the respiratory tract (Fervex, Humex, Lisopaine, etc.) and analgesics (Nurofen, Doliprane) recorded the highest sales. On the laboratory side, we find the same regulars on the podium. Homeopathic specialist Boiron is in the first rank thanks in particular to its Oscillococcinum against influenza, ahead of Sanofi (Doliprane) and BMS / Upsa (Fervex).
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