City authorities say the move follows public-private partnership regulations, while critics warn it could weaken equal access to medicines and essential pharmacy services across the capital.
Only three Serbian cities have so far implemented pharmacy concessions. Zrenjanin, Kruševac and Novi Sad awarded 15-year contracts to private pharmacy chains, with varying outcomes.
While operators in Zrenjanin and Novi Sad reported profits in 2024, the concessionaire in Kruševac recorded a net loss despite strong revenues. Attempts to concession public pharmacies in Valjevo and Kragujevac failed due to a lack of bidders.
As Belgrade prepares its next steps, these experiences highlight the uneven financial and operational results of pharmacy concessions in Serbia, raising questions about their long-term sustainability and impact on public health services.
