Examine the Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare Market in Singapore and Gain Access to Forecasts...

Examine the Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare Market in Singapore and Gain Access to Forecasts in New Report

DUBLIN, Ireland--(Business Wire)--
Research and Markets
(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c86029) has announced the
addition of Singapore Phamaceuticals & Healthcare Report Q1 2008 to
their offering.

The Singapore Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Report provides
independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on Singapore's
pharmaceuticals and healthcare industry.

Singapore's US$600mn pharmaceutical market is small in regional
terms because of its city-sized population. But because of its
well-developed economy, per capita spending is high, making it a draw
to almost all the multinationals. Accordingly, the country ranks as
the fourth most attractive Asia Pacific market in the completely
overhauled Business Environment Rankings, ahead of larger peers such
as Taiwan and Malaysia.

During Q307, Singapore accepted the December 2005 amendment to the
WTO's Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
agreement, which allows compulsory licensing to enable the export of
cheaper versions of patented medicines to address public health
problems. It is thought that Singapore will be extremely unlikely to
exercise this right, given the close ties it maintains with the
multinationals.

Amid protests that civil liberties are being eroded, city-state
Singapore introduced a National Registry of Diseases in November 2007,
with cancer being the first condition to be tracked. Despite the
country having a similar statistical tool for over 40 years, this one
is different in that it is mandatory for healthcare institutions -
both public and private - to contribute. While BMI is a strong
supporter of patient rights, we believe that disease registries are a
good thing, as more effective interventions can be swiftly mobilised.
This will eventually result in reduced costs. However, we caution that
security must be of the highest order, as information in the wrong
hands - such as employers or insurance companies - could be extremely
damaging to the individual.

Singapore is so bereft of pharmacists that it is considering
recruiting professionals from abroad. There are just 0.3 practising
pharmacists per 1,000 people, which compares unfavourably with other
developed states (ranging from 1.2 in France to 0.4 in Denmark). To
allow this, the Pharmacist Registration Act was amended during
September 2007 for the first time in 20 years to allow the conditional
and temporary registration of foreign-trained pharmacists.

Anticipating India's regional pre-eminence, Singapore agreed in
October 2007 to co-operate with the country in the area clinical trial
and movement of healthcare professionals. India will offer
outsourcing, consulting services and engineering expertise, while
Singapore will benefit from cost differentials of around 30-40%.

For more information visit
here

Source: Business Monitor International

Laura Wood
Senior Manager
Research and Markets
press@researchandmarkets.com
Fax: +353 1 4100 980

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