The Outlook for Pharmaceuticals in the Middle East and North Africa

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

The Outlook for Pharmaceuticals in the Middle East and North Africa

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Attractive macro-environmental conditions

In spite of recent political unrest, economic, social and demographic changes are making the pharmaceutical markets in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region more attractive. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) forecasts that the five MENA markets covered in this collection will represent a combined GDP of US$2.5 trillion in 2016, led by Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Economic development is changing the epidemiological health profile in the region, with the increasing prevalence of communicable diseases. In demographic terms, the population in these five MENA markets is still young and is expected to reach 246.2 million in 2016, headed by Egypt and Turkey. Nevertheless, there is a sizeable elderly population that will increase demand for healthcare services.

Healthcare development towards privatisation

The population has different levels of expectations in each national healthcare system. The healthcare system in Egypt, for instance, is in a transitory phase, characterised by progress towards privatisation. While access to free healthcare exists, private services are appearing as a result of the decline in the standard of public sector care. There is a need for considerable investment in order to continue the modernisation of programmes and maintain the existing facilities. There are two main areas of reform: primary healthcare and the provision of a national health insurance scheme. In Morocco, the health insurance system is in a transitional phase. Overall, opportunities exist, particularly in Turkey and Egypt, as combined health expenditure in these five markets is projected at US$153.2 billion in 2016.

Increasing pharmaceutical demand

International companies recognise the value and potential of these five MENA pharmaceutical markets. Sanofi, for instance, is the largest pharmaceutical operation in Morocco, whilst GlaxoSmithKline is the leader in Saudi Arabia. Some local producers, such as Hikma from Jordan and SPIMACO from Saudi Arabia, aim to become regional leaders. The projected CAGR for the region is very attractive compared to mature markets or other emerging markets. In fact, pharmaceutical sales in these five MENA markets are expected to amount to a combined value of US$35.8 billion at retail prices in 2016, including pharmacy and hospital sales. The region is headed by Turkey, followed by Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Local manufacturing production is fragmented and geared towards branded generics, but reliance on imports remains. Biotechnology is still in its infancy.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REGION

EGYPT

Egypt is expected to be the second leading pharmaceutical market in the MEA region in 2016. Providing the political situation stabilises and the economy continues to perform well, the Egyptian pharmaceutical market at retail prices is expected to rise by a high CAGR in US dollar terms between 2011 and 2016. Espicom estimates that the market increased by nearly five times between 2075 and 2010. Nevertheless, per capita consumption is still low. In spite of recent production problems, production is expected to rise as the healthcare system continues its transition towards modernisation. Considering opportunities beyond BRIC pharmaceutical markets, Egypt is becoming a very attractive market for multinational pharmaceutical companies focused on emerging markets.

JORDAN

Jordan has a relatively strong level of domestic production; however, the majority is exported, resulting in a market still dependent on imports. Most imported pharmaceuticals are retail medicaments from countries located in Western Europe, such as Switzerland and Germany, while exports are primarily semi-finished and retail medicaments destined for other countries in the MENA region. The largest pharmaceutical company in Jordan is Hikma Pharmaceuticals, with a market share of over 10%. The company has a number of manufacturing facilities in Jordan, as well as R&D facilities. In October 2010, Hikma announced it was to acquire an injectables business from a US company, which will significantly enhance the scope of the company's injectables business worldwide. Previously, Hikma acquired an Algerian company in April 2010 and a Tunisian company in March 2010, strengthening its presence in the MENA region.

MOROCCO

Although the Moroccan pharmaceutical market is small in global terms, per capita spending on pharmaceutical products is comparatively high for an African country. The pharmaceutical market, which was stagnating prior to the launch of the universal health insurance scheme in 2006, is expected to grow by a moderate CAGR between 2011 and 2016. Over 50% of the pharmaceutical companies operating in the country are owned by foreign interests, and these companies are responsible for more than half of industry turnover. Multinationals with a strong presence in the Moroccan pharmaceutical market include Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer. Hikma is also expected to increase its market penetration, following its acquisition of 63.9% of Promopharm, announced in October 2011. Independent local manufacturers primarily manufacture under licence or produce generics. Leading indigenous producers include Cooper Pharma, Laprophan and Sothéma.

SAUDI ARABIA

The Saudi pharmaceutical market is the richest in the Gulf region and is expected to rise by a CAGR in the high single digits during the 2011-2016 period. The private pharmacy sector tends to favour branded pharmaceuticals but is marked by tight price controls. The leading companies operating in the sector are GlaxoSmithKline and SPIMACO. The public sector, more generic-led, is dependent on oil revenues and is characterised by cost-containment and late payments for tenders. There is little domestic production in Saudi Arabia, therefore the vast majority of the market is provided by imports. There are only a few major domestic manufacturers in the country. Locally made pharmaceuticals supply only around 15% of the market, and the rest of the output is mainly exported to other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

TURKEY

Turkey is the largest MENA pharmaceutical market, due to the size of its population and GDP. The Turkish pharmaceutical market is expected to grow by a high single digit CAGR in US dollar terms between 2011 and 2016. While the overall pharmaceutical market size is amongst the top 30 largest in the world, per capita spending on pharmaceuticals in Turkey remains low, especially when compared with a European country. Given the possible accession to the EU, though this is still at least a few years away, the potential for growth is very promising, compared to more established and mature markets in Western Europe. There is a strong generics industry; according to the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association of Turkey (IEIS), generics account for over a third of the market in value terms and just over half in volume terms. There is room for this sector to expand as physicians are not actively encouraged to prescribe generic drugs and there are no incentives for pharmacists to dispense them.

THESE REPORTS ANALYSE THE ISSUES

The Outlook for Pharmaceuticals in the Middle East and North Africa is a unique collection of management reports from Espicom Business Intelligence. Each report provides individual and highly-detailed analysis of each market, looking at the key regulatory, political, economic and corporate developments in the wider context of market structure, service and access. The reports are available individually, or as a discounted collection, and prices include 4 completely updated reports sent quarterly, together with a comprehensive statistical appendix. There are over 60 markets covered in the worldwide series.

To order this report:

Managed_care Industry: The Outlook for Pharmaceuticals in the Middle East and North Africa

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