It is difficult to assess the size of Myanmar s pharmaceutical market, given the previous lack of foreign interest (and hence little primary research data and company financial results) in the country due to the military regime. We estimate that the country s pharmaceutical market is valued at MMK---bn (USD---mn) in ----. ...Indeed the country is required to have TRIPS compliant intellectual property (IP) legislation in place by ----, and we note that this draft law is a positive step in achieving this. Statistics from WIPO also showed that there were zero intellectual property applications (patents, trademarks, industrial designs, etc) filed between ---- and ----, leading us to believe that the pharmaceutical market consists wholly of generic and over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals. While it is difficult to provide a breakdown, BMI believes that a substantial portion of sales are derived from OTC drug sales, given the low per capita spending on pharmaceuticals (USD-.-) and healthcare (USD--.-), and the lack of proper healthcare facilities and medical personnel. The very few consumers of prescription drugs in Myanmar are those on high incomes: senior members of the military and certain high- ranking civil servants.
...BMI View: Myanmar s plan to introduce a maximum retail price for pharmaceuticals will not be fully implemented. The country s Food and Drug Administration lacks the regulatory capacity to enforce such a scheme as it struggles to address existing challenges such as the widespread sale of counterfeit medicines. ...BMI View: Myanmar s plan to introduce a maximum retail price for pharmaceuticals will not be fully implemented. The country s Food and Drug Administration lacks the regulatory capacity to enforce such a scheme as it struggles to address existing challenges such as the widespread sale of counterfeit medicines. Moreover, patient demand for low-value medicines that are yet to be registered points to structural problems within the medical system. ...Moreover, patient demand for low-value medicines that are yet to be registered points to structural problems within the medical system. Furthermore, access to medicines at public facilities and affordability constraints will not be adequately mitigated with the implementation of price controls.
...One of the least developed pharmaceutical markets in Asia, with low per capita spending on drugs. Counterfeit drugs account for a significant amount of market consumption. ...
