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. Malta is the smallest country among the ten that joined the European Union in May 2004. With a population of just above 400,000, it will also be the smallest EU country, behind Luxembourg. Malta approved EU membership in a referendum in March 2003, although by only a relatively slim margin; 143,094 votes to 123,628. The archipelago of islands comprising Malta, Gozo and Comino today undertakes 75% of its foreign trade with the Union. Tourism constitutes its main resource and contributes 35% to the national GDP.

Malta's pharmaceutical sector comprises several actors. Malta has only one pharmaceutical manufacturing company, Actavis, and the market relies almost entirely on imports. Private Maltese pharmaceutical importers represent the international pharmaceutical companies and act as purchasers and distributors both to the state and to private pharmacies or clinics. Due to the small size of the market, many larger companies have not registered local patents. Malta interpreted the Bolar provision in such a way that is generous to the generics industry. The provision has allowed competitors to start developing products six years after a pharmaceutical company first applies for a authorisation to market a new drug, even while the branded drug is still patent-protected.