OTC: dominated by pharmacies

According to figures by GfK Hungária, the number of households in Hungary which purchased OTC products, which require no prescription, fell by 10 per cent in the first half of 2006 compared to the 57 per cent in 2005. However, price rises more than made up for the reduction in the number of customers which resulted in overall sales growing by 6 per cent. Vitamins accounted for 53 per cent, pain killers for 29 per cent, and products used for cold for 18 per cent of total sales. Households of 3-4 people and families with children under 14 or an above average income are the most frequent customers of OTC products.