New Delhi: Pharmaceutical sales in India are expected to rise by 14.4percent to $27 billion in 2016 from last year, but the life sciences and health care industry is up against challenges such as quality management and meeting global standards, says a report.
According to "2014 Global Life Sciences Outlook" by consultancy firm Deloitte, pharmaceutical sales in India stood at $22.6 billion in 2012, which is expected to rise to $23.6 billion in 2013.
It added: "As a percent of health care expenditures, pharmaceutical sales were 22.6percent in 2012; they are expected to reach 23.6percent in 2013 and 27percent by 2016."
Despite the exponential growth, the report said, India's life sciences and health care industry still faces challenges.
"The outcome of new product patents, drug price control, poor regulatory enforcement, inadequate health care infrastructure, shortage of skilled workforce, increasing patient expectations, ever-changing technology, and quality management and conformance to global standards act as critical barriers in delivering products and services in a sustainable manner," Deloitte said.
India is among the top five emerging pharma markets and has been posting double digit growth on account of several socio-economic factors, including increasing sales of generic medicines, continued growth in chronic therapies, and a greater penetration in rural markets, it said.
"Other growth drivers are heightened health awareness, increasing affluence, changing lifestyles resulting in higher incidence of lifestyle diseases, increasing government expenditure on health care, and a nascent, yet fast growing health insurance industry," the report further said.
In addition, the nation's low cost of production and R&D boosts the efficiency of pharmaceutical companies and its comparative cost advantage enhances pharma exports, it added.
"The worldwide demand for cost-effective generic drugs is leading India to rise as a hub of generic drug manufacturing," the report said.
Further, a number of pharma companies are increasing their operations in India, which has 119 manufacturing sites approved by the USFDA, the highest in any foreign country.
India accounts for over 10percent of global pharma production, with over 60,000 generic brands across 60 therapeutic categories; it manufactures more than 400 different active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
On the opportunities for the country's pharma sector, the report said Indian firms can expect to garner $40 billion in sales with 46 U.S. drug patents set to expire by 2015.
The focus on regions with ageing population like Japan, Africa, and Latin America for growth is expected to pay dividends for the Indian companies.
"The main focus of the Indian companies is on countries with ageing populations such as Japan, Africa, and Latin America, which need cheaper drugs," the report said.
Besides, the multinational (MNCs) firms are investing and driving growth in the Indian life sciences industry despite stiff price competition, government price controls, and limited availability of infrastructure, the report said.
"India has a fragmented life sciences industry, with stiff price competition, government price controls, and limited availability of infrastructure. Nonetheless, MNCs are increasing their operations in India and creating opportunities to drive industry growth in the country," it added.
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