Although China is making efforts to improve piracy and counterfeit drug enforcement mechanisms, pharmaceutical companies must still be extremely careful in the Chinese market. In fact, currently several large US pharmaceutical companies are facing significant challenges dealing with counterfeit drugs in China.... Read More
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) recently announced its plans to reduce medical insurance coverage for some of its elderly population. Under the new measure, seventy to seventy-five year old citizens who are not in the higher income bracket... Read More
China ‘s State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) initiated a publicity campaign on October 15, 2005, to decrease false and illegal advertising of drugs, medical devices, and health foods. The campaign, entitled “Care for Life and Health: Say No to False Advertisements... Read More
China ‘s State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) has recently been making greater efforts to improve its pharmaceutical industry, including the protection and quality of drugs on the market in China. On March 2, 2005, the National Drug Registration Working Conference was... Read More
As Vietnam’s economy continues to expand (7.7 percent GDP growth in 2004), the country’s middle class population is growing, and spending is on the rise. More and more women are willing to purchase affordable, and occasionally, higher-end cosmetics. Vietnam’s cosmetic industry is... Read More
Malaysia’s healthcare sector, including pharmaceuticals and medical devices, is one of the country’s largest industries, valued at around $1 billion. Currently, Malaysia has over 250 private medical facilities, and the country’s medical market is growing at an annual rate of 6-7 percent.... Read More
While both the U.S. and European over-the-counter (OTC) drug markets are mature, valued at approximately $30 billion and $24 billion respectively, it is Asia’s OTC market that is showing the fastest growth. Many countries in Asia are experiencing strong economic growth, and... Read More
Japan’s generic drug market still lags behind that of the United States; Japan’s generic drug market share is around 10-15 percent, while the U.S. market share is closer to 50 percent. Japanese people tend to be very “brand conscious” and can view... Read More
With the introduction of India’s new patent regime in January 2005, multinational pharmaceutical companies are increasing their presence in the Indian drug industry. The number of global pharmaceutical companies looking to benefit from partnerships with Indian companies has been increasing steadily. Indian... Read More
The Japanese government recently approved a plan to amend the ban on “mixed medical care” in Japan. Mixed medical care refers to the use of both insured and uninsured medical treatments by medical institutions and doctors. The mixed medical care ban requires... Read More