Abstract
Healthcare in Pakistan is still in the early stages of development. Widespread
poverty and a weak health system underlie the poor health status of the
population. This report is ideal for executives wanting to understand the key
drivers in the pharmaceutical market and have access to a wealth of
statistical data, including five-year market projections. Included with the
report are 3 free quarterly updated outlook reports, enabling you to keep up
to date with market developments for a year.
Includes 3 quarterly updated outlook reports!
Healthcare in Pakistan is still in the early stages of development. Widespread
poverty and a weak health system underlie the poor health status of the
population. Government funding continues to be minimal, equal to around 3% of
GDP and achieves little more than maintaining the status quo, while the
problems of poor nutrition and sanitation are compounded by Pakistan' s large
and fast growing population. However as the economy improves, the level of
spending may well begin to rise. Other issues at the heart of the problem
include the continuing prevalence of communicable diseases, low health
manpower levels and the under- utilisation of primary health facilities.
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. The appointment of drug inspection
teams to investigate the manufacture and sale of ' fake' drugs has met with
disappointing results so far, largely due to a lack of resources and
bureaucratic complications.
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. New legislation
permitting imports of Indian- made drugs was introduced in June 2005, although
this has yet to be capitalised upon in any significant way and is unlikely to
be in the near future.
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