United Arab Emirates Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare Report Q2 2015 - New Report Available

Further drug price reductions in the UAE will result in lower profit margins for drugmakers operating in the country, though we believe that an increasing volume of sales will offset losses from pharmaceutical companies and we have maintained our positive market forecast. Increased affordability levels among the population, compulsory health insurance and medical tourism are all key drivers of growth in the UAE pharmaceutical market.

Headline Expenditure Projections

* Pharmaceuticals: AED8.98bn (USD2.45bn) in 2014 to AED9.53bn (USD2.60bn) in 2015; +6.2% in local currency and US dollar terms.
* Healthcare: AED45.70bn (USD12.44bn) in 2014 to AED48.95bn (USD13.34bn) in 2015; +7.1% in local currency terms and +7.2% US dollar terms.

Full Report Details at
- http://www.fastmr.com/prod/980210_united_arab_emirates_pharmaceuticals_healthcare.aspx?afid=301

Risk/Reward Index

The UAE is one of the most rewarding markets for pharmaceutical and healthcare providers in the Middle East and African region. It has a fast-growing private healthcare sector, which brings with it demand for innovative and patented drugs. The UAE's relative political stability also contributes to the country's high regional score. In our Q2 2015 Indices, the UAE scores 59.4 and is the most attractive market in our Middle East and African regional matrix.

Key Trends & Developments

February 2015

* The prices of 280 medicines were reduced in the UAE as part of the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) drug price unification process. The range of reductions for the products falls between 6% and 55%, and the implicated products are those in the anti-infectives, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal and respiratory therapeutic areas. The Health Ministry confirmed that it has cut the price of 7,751 medicines of the 8,500 listed since the launch of the GCC unification process in 2011. The Ministry has stated its intention to continue the initiative until the prices of drugs in the UAE become the lowest across the Arabian Gulf.
* The establishment of a pan-UAE diabetes registry by end-2015 to track the prevalence,...