In 2010, operators of pharmacy chains want to take over hundreds of additional pharmacies.

For customers, this could mean cheaper drugs and broader access to loyalty programs. Most sales of drugs in Poland take place through small, family-run shops independent of the bigger players.

The powerful pharmacy groups, within which pharmacies with varied ownership structures operate, want to change this.

The chain Dbam o Zdrowie alone, which now comprises about 2,000 outlets, is planning to expand its group by an additional 500. "We will be encouraging people to take advantage of our loyalty program, but we will also encourage franchises,", said DoZ president Karol Piasecki.

Source: Dziennik Gazeta Prawna