Abstract
Includes 3 quarterly updated outlook reports!
The Republic of Lithuania is situated in north-eastern Europe and is largest
of the three Baltic states. It is bordered by Latvia, Belarus, Poland and by
the territory of the Russian Federation (Kalingrad Oblast). The population of
Lithuania is estimated at 3.4 million in 2008. Lithuania joined the EU in 2004.
Funding for healthcare in Lithuania is principally through the Compulsory
Health Insurance Fund. Compulsory insurance came into force in 1997, following
a delay in its implementation. It should provide free, basic treatment to the
insured population, but unofficial payments still occur, to cover the cost of
pharmaceuticals and staff wages. Private expenditure has increased in recent
years and is equal to 30.2% of total spending in 2008.
In 2008, the Lithuanian market for pharmaceuticals is estimated at US$747
million, or US$222 per capita. It is expected that the market will continue to
expand at a rate of 6.7% per annum, reaching US$1,033 million, equal to US$316
per capita, by 2013.
Around 80% of the pharmaceutical market is supplied by imports. In 2006,
Germany, Belgium and Latvia were the leading suppliers, accounting for almost
50% of imports. The value of imports has increased every year since 1999.
Sanitas, Lithuania' s largest pharmaceutical company, recorded sales growth of
680% between 2004 and 2007 due to the acquisition of three pharmaceutical
companies in central Europe. Sanitas purchased Slovakia' s Hoechst-Biotika in
July 2005, Poland' s Jelfa in April 2006 and the Polish ointment producer
Homeofarm in December 2008. However, the company remains very small by
international standards.
| 
View Cart
