Research and Markets: Bahrain Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Report Q3 2011 - The Gulf Cooperation Council Will Help Keep Bahrain's Budget In Surplus To The Tune Of 1.9% Of GDP In 2011

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/eb0f38/bahrain_pharmaceut) has announced the addition of the "Bahrain Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Report Q3 2011" report to their offering.

While Bahrain boasts one of the most advanced healthcare systems in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, recent political tensions, coupled with its small population size, will affect its attractiveness to pharmaceutical investors. Nevertheless, given the absence of a meaningful domestic base for pharmaceutical manufacturing, imports will continue to dominate the market. On the other hand, while high per-capita incomes will remain the key driver of consumption of modern pharmaceuticals and medical devices, generic drugs are expected to make more of an inroad into the market, as demographic and epidemiological factors push the authorities towards a path of cost-containment.

Headline Expenditure Projections:

• Pharmaceuticals: BHD63mn (US$168mn) in 2010 to BHD69mn (US$183mn) in 2011
• Healthcare: BHD349mn (US$929mn) in 2010 to BHD387mn (US$1.03bn) in 2011
• Medical devices: BHD26mn (US$69mn) in 2010 to BHD29mn (US$76mn) in 2011

Key Trends & Developments:

The online service of UK-based healthcare solution provider Patients Know Best (PKB) has been supported by at least two hospitals in Bahrain, reports Gulf Daily News. The company, launched by Bahraini doctor Mohammad Al Ubaydli in the UK, offers secure communication services with doctors and nurses, providing access to medical records and communicating the healthcare data service to patients. The services have also received a positive response from hospitals in the UAE and Malta.

Despite an aggressive ramp up in spending this year, higher oil prices and emergency financial assistance from neighbouring states in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will help keep Bahrain's budget in surplus to the tune of 1.9% of GDP in 2011. Given the expected increase in spending on defence (13% of the total fiscal expenditure, in addition to cash handouts and promises of new housing), it is apparent that the government is focused more on short-term survival than pushing through necessary long-term structural economic reforms. The Ministry of Health is slated to receive 7% of the total government spending, on a par with the Ministry of Interior.

Companies Mentioned:

• Al-Jishi Corporation
• Bahrain Industrial Pharmaceutical Co (Bidapharm)
• Behzad Medical Establishment
• Yousuf Mahmood Husain Company
• Multinational Companies
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
• Novartis
• Johnson & Johnson (J&J)
• Merck & Co
• Pfizer
• Sanofi-Aventis

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/eb0f38/bahrain_pharmaceut