Spending on healthcare in the UK has risen on average by
about 6% since the year 2000.
The domestic market for medica-
tion has grown by around 2. 8% annually in the same period. De-
mand is increasingly being met fromimports, which have grown by
a higher average rate (+9. 3%) than exports (+7. 8%) since 2000.
Cost-saving measures in the chronically under-funded British
healthcare system, the NHS, is restricting further demand for
medication somewhat – at least in value terms.
For German producers of pharmaceutical products, Europe
and specifically the EU were the most important foreign trade
partners in 2015, with respective shares of 60% and 50% of ex-
ports, and 78% and 56% of imports. The UK occupies a prime
position as a customer. 10. 2% of total pharma exports are to the
British market – relative to a foreign sales ratio of 65%.
The proportion of imports fromthe UK was only about 4%. The pharma-
ceutical industry is thus one of the sectors most severely affected
by Brexit based on exports.
EU Forecast
euf:ba18.c:6/nws-01