This important new report from Espicom analyses health and drug expenditure as factors driving growth in drug Internet sales in the USA. This important new report from Espicom - published March 2005 - analyses health and drug expenditure as factors driving growth in drug Internet sales in the USA.

The US pharmaceutical market, valued by Espicom at US$270 billion in 2004, accounts for 41.2% of the global market, and has grown at an average of 13% since 1995. The USA spends more on health than any other country in the world at US$1.8 trillion dollars in 2004, equal to 15.4% of total GDP.

However, when it comes to the provision, delivery and funding of health services, the country shows significant weaknesses comparable, in some cases, to less developed countries.

With health costs rising so rapidly, and where significant numbers of people do not have any/sufficient health insurance or access to publicly funded healthcare, consumers are using the Internet to purchase cheaper drugs.

The development of the Internet has increased prescription drug importation in recent years. Canadian drug Internet importation was valued at US$1.2 billion in the USA in 2004. Currently, the Canadian government is planning to stop Canadian drug Internet exports to the USA in 2005 and as a counterbalance, Canadian internet pharmacies are looking at the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand as second sources of supplies.

One thing is for sure, Internet pharmacies are part of the operating landscape in the US
- the question is, “Where next?”

This report provides real insight:
This report provides a thorough examination of the political, regulatory and commercial issues. It puts Internet pharmacies into their market context and explores the structure of the industry and its likely development.

No one affected by the sales of medicines over the Internet can afford to be anything less than fully informed. This well argued and researched report provides all you need to know.

The report addresses key questions:
The current state of the US industry and the factors which have - and are - creating the Internet drug market
The confused regulatory situation: can US authorities ever control this trade?
The Canadian industry and Internet associations
Types of internet pharmacies
Emerging internet pharmacies in Europe