The Republic of South Africa represents one of the most diverse medical markets in the world. Rich, urban areas retain many of the high-quality facilities developed for the White population under the apartheid regime. Rural areas and Black townships are only now slowly beginning to develop any kind of modernised health service. The South African pharmaceutical market is the largest in Africa, estimated at US$1,687 million in 2005.

Since coming into power in 1994, the ANC government had been determined to redress the years of neglect in the public primary healthcare sector. As a result, the focus of attention has shifted away from the tertiary and medical research sectors towards primary care, leading to severe budget cuts within the public hospital sector. While the latest drugs remain almost exclusive to the high tech hospital sector, rural areas continue to suffer from shortages of the most basic medicines and treatments for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. The most serious, and certainly the most high profile healthcare concern in South Africa is the HIV/AIDS epidemic; the country has one of the highest infection rates in the world but little money to purchase antiretroviral treatments that are commonly available in the West.

After lengthy debate and many delays, the South African government finally passed its major piece of pharmaceutical legislation in May 2003, the Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Act. The Act was broad ranging and aimed to bring national procedures further in line with international standards. The new regulations should produce a more accessible healthcare system for the country's vast poor population, most notably to HIV/AIDS retrovirals. That said, the sector is still mired in controversy regarding the provision of the antiretroviral nevirapine to pregnant women infected with HIV in order to prevent the transmission of the disease from mother to child. Despite a constitutional Court ruling ordering the government to approve the drug, it has refused to do so, sparking an outcry from drugs companies, notably Boerhinger Ingelheim, as well as HIV/AIDS groups across the country. Although the regulatory authority now appears willing to approve the drug, a decision has still not been reached as there are conflicting reports about its safety following reports of liver toxicity with long-term use.

This Pharmaceutical Markets country report is ideal for executives wanting to understand the key drivers in Pharmaceutical markets and have access to a wealth of statistical data. The report opens with an outlook section that provides analysis of the market and, importantly, provides 5-year market forecasts, national data projections, outlook and key developments such as regulation, pricing/reimbursement, health facilities and government policy. The report also provides background information, population trends, health status, health expenditure, organisation & administration, medical services and personnel, healthcare development, market access information, trade data for raw materials and finished products and essential industry contacts.

The Republic of South Africa represents one of the most diverse medical markets in the world. Rich, urban areas retain many of the high-quality facilities developed for the White population under the apartheid regime. Rural areas and Black townships are only now slowly beginning to develop any kind of modernised health service. The South African pharmaceutical market is the largest in Africa, estimated at US$1,687 million in 2005.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c49750

Source: Espicom Business Intelligence