Boston, MA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/22/2012 -- BMI View: The Netherlands remains ranked top in the 2012 version of the Euro Health Consumer Index, which is compiled by Swedish company Health Consumer Powerhouse (HCP) based on access to novel drugs, e-health initiatives, waiting times and similar factors. The key to the country's success is a healthcare system characterised by its minimal bureaucracy, improving access to services and patient empowerment. However, such factors will not translate into a growth of the Dutch pharmaceutical market values, which are expected to continue shirking over the coming years, as a result of downward pressures on prices, patent expirations and a wider climate of cost containment.

Headline Expenditure Projections

- Pharmaceuticals: EUR6.70bn (US$9.31bn) in 2011 to EUR6.51bn (US$8.27bn) in 2012; -2.8% in local currency terms and -11.2% in US dollar terms. Forecast slightly lower from Q312 on account of macroeconomic conditions.
- Healthcare: EUR62.94bn (US$87.49bn) in 2011 to EUR64.43bn (US$81.83bn) in 2012; +2.4% in local currency terms and -6.5% in US dollar terms. Forecast slightly lower from Q312 on account of macroeconomic conditions.
- Medical devices: EUR11.41bn (US$15.86bn) in 2011 to EUR11.72bn (US$14.89bn) in 2012; +2.8% in local currency terms and -6.1% in US dollar terms. Forecast slightly lower from Q312 on account of macroeconomic conditions.

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Risk/Reward Ratings: In our latest Pharmaceutical Risk/Reward Ratings (RRRs) matrix for Western Europe, which ranks 10 key markets, the Netherlands remains seventh. Its composite score is unchanged from the previous quarter, comprising the below-regional average rewards score and a risk component that mirrors the average for the quarter.

Key Trends And Developments

- In the latest reference price adjustment in the Netherlands, carried out in March 2012, the prices of generic medicines fell by 0.9% - attributed almost entirely to the patent expiry of Lipitor (atorvastatin). Additionally, health insurance companies VGZ, CZ and Menzis stated that they were including generic atorvastatin in their preference policies. The prices of patented medicines fell by 1.5% in relation to their previous prices - pushed down by a decline in the price of Seretide (salmeterol + fluticasone), Symbicort (formoterol + budesonide) and Zyprexa (olanzapine). Overall, the price of prescription medicines suffered a 1.4% decline.

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