Between 2014 and 2018, annual growth in the healthcare market will be 4 to 7 percent, and will reach the US$ 1 trillion mark by 2018. Considering the growing populations in emerging countries and their increasing healthcare needs, IMS expects the market to climb to US$ 1.4 trillion by 2020. This accelerated growth can be explained by increasing market maturity and new treatments offered by new technologies.
The percentage represented by developing countries is expected to double to meet increased needs as their populations continue to grow.
The dynamics of the pharmaceutical industry are expected to change in the coming years, with the emphasis shifting to more specialized labs. As new markets open, pharma companies will need to make considerable efforts to adapt their business models, and this will be much easier for smaller companies to achieve.