OBJECTIVES: To prepare detailed analysis of parallel trade of pharmaceuticals in Poland and to build a model calculating direct and indirect savings resulting from this phenomenon. METHODS: Diligent analysis of parallel trade based on data provided by IMS Health and gathered from The Polish Office for Registration of Medical Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products preceded by systematic literature review. RESULTS: Parallel import (PI) of pharmaceuticals in Poland has been possible since Poland became an EU member in May 2004. Since that date the PI licences have been granted for 352 medicines in Poland (73% prescription medicines, 20% OTC, 5% hospital and 2% veterinary). Currently, there are 18 parallel traders operating on the Polish market although only 5 have a significant share. Pharmaceuticals offered by parallel importers in Poland are exported mainly from Greece (33%), the Czech Republic (17%), France (12%), and the UK (12%). The share of parallel trade in total pharmaceutical market reached 0.5% in January 2009 compared to 0.3% in December 2007. The sales value from parallel import was PLN 82 million in 2008. Available analyses prove that medicines from parallel trade are cheaper than original products in Poland by about 20 to 60%. Up to now, there were no scientific studies of savings, resulting from parallel import in Poland. Detailed study on this topic is planned in cooperation with recognized European experts on parallel trade – University of Southern Denmark researchers. CONCLUSIONS: Parallel import is expected to grow in the next few years in Poland. Therefore, it is necessary to implement a reliable model of support for parallel importers by means of appropriate directives introduced by the Polish Government. In order to convince decision-makers that parallel import could be a source of substantial savings a detailed study is going to be conducted according to methodology mentioned above.