The Outlook for Pharmaceutical Markets in Asia 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. 4 Key Markets Covered!
Bangladesh, China, India and Pakistan.
Highlights from the Region: INDIA
India is a country of extremes. The vast majority of the population is both rural and poor, although urban poverty is also a problem. Modern healthcare technology and western style pharmaceuticals are not even an issue for millions of people. On a national level, the Indian health system is ill-equipped to cope with the rising number of elderly and the changing disease patterns, with an average of just 0.7 hospital beds and 0.6 physicians per thousand population. India faces the continuing challenge of fighting infectious diseases like malaria, tuberculosis and leprosy alongside increases in lifestyle related problems faced by the developed world, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

India has more US FDA approved laboratories than any other country outside the USA. A number of US companies already source pharmaceutical raw materials from India. In comparison with China, the wide use of English in commerce is mooted as an advantage to US companies, along with India's tradition as an exporting nation. India should prove to be a useful regional production base. Partnering an Indian company may also provide a good route to commercialisation in targeted markets such as Brazil or Russia, where Indian companies have an established presence. In addition, India has a large and varied patient base along with the necessary chemical and analytical skills at a comparatively low cost to make it an attractive base for clinical trials. R&D alliances are already being forged between multinationals and domestic companies.

CHINA
China, in terms of both its healthcare system and pharmaceutical market, is a nation of contradiction. As the world's most populous country, and one in possession of the fastest growing major economy in the world, the nation offers a vast array of opportunities for overseas investors, complemented by a massive potential workforce and consumer base. The SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) crisis of 2003 forced the government to examine the Chinese health infrastructure in great detail and healthcare has become a priority of the present government. Other priorities addressed by the government include the standard of rural healthcare which for many years has differed markedly in its quality to that in urban areas. In particular, the more basic practices of ‘barefoot doctors' are to be phased out, and medical personnel in these impoverished regions are to be required to pass a more advanced series of qualifications. Increased investment from overseas in the form of a range of projects continues, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic in China has assumed greater significance, with the establishment of various programmes aimed at attempting to combat the disease.

PAKISTAN
The Pakistani pharmaceutical market remains beset with difficulties. Strict government control over pricing has made many drugs uneconomical, with the result that they either become available only on the black market at inflated prices, or disappear completely. In this environment, manufacturers, both local and foreign-owned, have proved unable to generate the profits needed for capital investment. This is not helped by a regulatory system best described as rudimentary. There is virtually no public drug reimbursement or IP protection; patent law was officially tightened in December 2000, although the effectiveness of this has been questioned. In 2002, further changes were made, making Pakistan's IP laws even weaker. Drug prices are officially controlled, although the government lacks the capacity to enforce its policies in this area. Some price rises have been allowed since 2000, but the current government shows little sign of enacting any serious reform of the pharmaceutical sector, preferring to allege profiteering on the part of the pharmaceutical industry. An import law allowing Indian-made drugs to enter the market was signed in June 2005, although after several months, not one permit has so far been issued.

BANGLADESH
Given the country's lack of spending power, the pharmaceutical market, at US$589 million, remains tiny in comparison with the size of the population. Pharmaceutical spending is amongst the lowest in the world in per capita terms. Steadily improving economic performance, combined with a general determination to boost the quality of healthcare, should lead to steady, if unspectacular, market growth. With a ruling party in power holding a sizeable majority, it is hoped that legislation and initiatives regarding health and welfare issues can be implemented with greater ease and efficacy. An increase in investment in Bangladesh by multinational pharmaceutical manufacturers is also anticipated to stimulate the sector. The revised National Drug Policy was introduced in 2005 with the hope of attracting foreign multinational investment and revitalising the health sector in the long term. In addition the continually improving performance of Beximco, the leading domestic manufacturer, offers encouraging signs for the future. The market is dominated by cheap, locally produced generic drugs used for the treatment or prevention of basic illnesses and conditions. FOR EVERY MARKET

MARKET OUTLOOK
Current market size
Unique 5-Year market projections to 2012
Market outlook
Comment & rating, covering 8 key areas such as use of generic drugs, intellectual property, pricing and the health systems
Market structure
Statistical data on imports and exports
Market developments, covering recent and impending developments with respect to key issues such as regulation, health facilities, funding and
government policy
Key national data projections

FOR EVERY MARKET

BACKGROUND DATA
Population data, including growth trends and age structure
Demographic indicators detailing principal causes of death and morbidity

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Organisation & administration
Health expenditure
- Expenditure by source of funding and type
Hospital services
- Hospital data such as beds by type, region, specialty, patient admissions and surgical procedures
Outpatient care
Medical personnel
- Data on healthcare professionals covering such areas as doctors by specialty, nursing staff and dentists

ACCESSING THE PHARMA MARKET
Regulatory environment
Distribution guide and trade fair information
Domestic production

CONTACT DETAILS
For healthcare organisations and trade associations