Trends

Trends lead to produce volume growth on the one hand and pressure on gross margins on the other. In our market, we recognize important trends:

 

  • Ageing of the population: the number of people with chronic afflictions is rising continually, resulting in volume growth in the market for pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
  • There is continuing pressure on prices to keep healthcare affordable. Patients are being asked to pay more themselves (for instance in the form of co-payments or a deductible) and patients' freedom of choice is restricted by preference preselection on the part of insurers. In addition, this price pressure leads to lower revenue from logistics, distribution and purchasing for wholesalers, pharmacies and others.
  • Patients are becoming more aware and empowered and increasingly value convenience, in the form of better service and a wider choice. Moreover, the consequences of diseases are less readily accepted.
  • Shift towards the direct channel: increasingly, pharmaceuticals and medical devices are supplied directly to homes; sometimes together with advice and instructions.
  • The steepest volume growth is occurring for specialised pharmaceuticals for small groups of patients, for instance biopharmaceuticals, rather than for pharmaceuticals with a broad use.

 

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