Trends and Perspectives in the Development of Pharmaceutical Production in Bulgaria

This study is dedicated to the trends in the development of the Bulgarian pharmaceutical industry. The opinions of other authors on the state and opportunities for development of the sector are summarized. An analysis of the state and prospects is made. The dynamics of the development of pharmaceutical production in Bulgaria during the 2017-2023 period are tracked. Special attention is paid to innovation costs. An attempt is made to compare the needs for medicines with the product list of a large Bulgarian manufacturer. For this purpose, data from the NSI, the National Health Insurance Fund and the manufacturer’s company website are used. The need for scientific developments and implementation of new productions is substantiated, which will allow maintaining high competitiveness in both the domestic and foreign markets. There are prerequisites for improving and expanding the product lists of manufacturers, and an incentive for development is the increasing demand for medicinal products in the country, in the European Union and beyond. The country’s educational and scientific capacity for the successful development of this type of industry is discussed. The thesis is advocated that national pharmaceutical production can be considered an element of national security and deserves targeted support. Existing and currently under construction business parks are recommended as suitable centers for scientific and applied research.