The Pharmaceutical Market: Portugal

Summary

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.

Portugal has a small pharmaceutical market, valued at US$5.9 billion at retail prices in 2007. One of the weaknesses of the Portuguese pharmaceutical market is the lack of national policies for the industry and difficulties in applying innovation. Local producers are small and need to merge or form alliances to compete at European and global levels. There are 15 leading local producers which are responsible for one third of total domestic production.

A new pharmacy regulatory environment was established in August 2007. Since March 2007, a new drug price system has also been in place. In 2006, Portugal transposed its national regulation for human pharmaceuticals to the relevant European Directives. Other measures in 2006 included new rules to purchase hospital medicines.

Since being in power in 2005, the Socialist party has adopted other measures to promote the access of drugs among the population. These include the sale of non-prescription medicines (MNSRM), that are not reimbursed by the government, in establishments different from pharmacies; price reductions of 6% in reimbursed drugs; cancellation of the extra 10% reimbursement of generics; and the revision of the existing reimbursement system.

The number of pharmacies has increased moderately in recent years. In 2005, there were 2,775 pharmacies in Portugal, of which 2,670 were in the mainland, 46 in Azores and 59 in Madeira. Also, there were 259 pharmacy extensions in 2005, of which 239 were in the mainland, 19 in Azores and one in Madeira. Excluding Azores and Madeira, there were 305 wholesalers in 2005, which represented an increase of 14.2% over 267 wholesalers in 2005.

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