Espicom's in-depth pharmaceutical market reports are ideal for executives wanting to understand the key drivers in pharmaceutical markets and have access to a wealth of statistical data. Each report opens with an outlook section that provides analysis of the market, 5-year market forecasts, national data projections, market outlook and key developments such as regulation, pricing/reimbursement, intellectual property, health facilities and government policy. The report also provides extensive background information, population trends, health status, health expenditure, organisation & administration, hospital services, medical personnel, healthcare development, market access information, trade data for raw materials and finished products and essential industry contacts. Included with the report are 3 free quarterly updated outlook reports, enabling you to keep up to date with market developments for a year. Once a prosperous part of Yugoslavia, Croatia's infrastructure was decimated by the civil war of the early 1990s. With the loss of income from its lucrative industries and a sizeable refugee problem, the economy, unsurprisingly, collapsed. In the years following the end of the conflict, government reforms succeeded in producing modest levels of economic growth, with international aid playing an important part in Croatia's recovery, funding the reconstruction of the country's shattered infrastructure. In 1998, however, the country experienced economic recession in the wake of the Asian and Russian crises, which led to severe funding problems for the public health insurance system.

Healthcare sector reform was initially a priority for the government, replacing outmoded and impractical practices in place under the former communist regime. A considerable number of healthcare institutions have been renovated and a universal health insurance system implemented. The area of primary care has seen a great deal of development; a consequence of neglect under the pre-war regime. The government is now aiming to bring the performance of the health sector into line with that of other EU member states, through the National Health Strategy 2006-2011. The reform mainly focuses on the healthcare delivery system, healthcare financing and public health.

The pharmaceutical industry in Croatia is relatively small and is dominated by local and regional generic suppliers. Croatia runs a negative balance of trade in finished pharmaceuticals and a positive balance in raw materials. It is also home to Pliva, one of the world's largest generic manufacturers. Pliva was acquired by the USA's Barr Pharmaceuticals in October 2006.