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. Health sector development in Turkey has been far from dynamic in recent years, largely due to the effects of the earthquakes that hit the northern region in 1999; the draining effect on the national economy has been considerable. However, with the launch of the Second Health Project, with aid from the World Bank, there are signs of renewed activity in the sector. Turkey continues to take further steps towards EU accession and is currently in talks. However, not all member states are happy with Turkey's possible membership. Austria for example, would far rather enter into a “privileged partnership” with Turkey than accept it as a full member; other members are also bitterly divided over the issue. The accession bid sees national legislation, including regulation of the healthcare sector, becoming increasingly aligned with EU guidelines.

In a stark contrast to the health sector, the pharmaceutical sector is dominated by the private sector, which handles the majority of all production, import, wholesale, storage and retail of medicaments in Turkey; the only exception is the SSK-owned pharmaceutical plant, which provides drugs solely to SSK facilities. A large share of the private sector production is under licence to foreign companies. Turkey spends a disproportionately large amount on pharmaceutical products. The high percentage of drugs expenditure in terms of total health expenditure is as much a reflection of low health spending as it is of high pharmaceutical expenditure. Due to the sensitive economic climate, the majority of the population is sensitive to fluctuations in drug prices.

The Turkish pharmaceutical market is relatively small, at around US$5.6 billion in 2006, at consumer prices. Industry concern continues to revolve around Turkey's integration into the international pharmaceutical community, especially with regard to compliance with WTO regulations. The threat of an influx of foreign-manufactured products onto the EU market has been the catalyst for the local drug industry to oppose harmonisation. However, with the appointment of a pro-EU Director of Pharmaceuticals at the Directorate of Pharmaceuticals of the Ministry of Health, international disquiet looks set to decline as the process of harmonisation gathers pace.