Operating environment

High cost inflation and increasing interest rates have impacted consumer confidence and weakened consumers’ expectations of their own economy. Nevertheless, the increased economic uncertainty did not affect the pharmaceutical market, which continued to grow steadily in the first quarter in Sweden and Finland. 

The availability of raw materials for medical products continued to be tight during the first quarter, and this affected the availability of some medicines in Sweden and Finland. Energy and fuel prices have been stabilising and following the completed union negotiations during the first quarter, labour costs will increase in the coming quarters.

As published in Q1 2023 interim report on 27 April 2023.