Escape from economic crisis pharmaceutical

If you have an industry that doesn''t have much than complain the economic crisis in Brazil is the pharmacist. Driven by factors such as the ageing population or the advancement of generic drugs, the industry showed growth of 13.1% in the last year, representing a turnover of approximately $85 billion in the period R.
Unlike the closing of jobs occurred in various sectors, hiring increased by 20%. The numbers do not mean that the sector does not have its difficulties, such as high-dollar – 80% of the inputs are imported, and the tax burden accumulated debt by the Government with the judicialization of health, R $1 billion in December 2015.
But a country with 200 million people will never cease to be seen as a strategic market for the industries.
In this context, Minas Gerais can celebrate. In recent months, companies have invested millions of dollars in expansion of its units. One of them is the Biolab, which last year grossed R $1.25 billion.
The pharmacist just announced R $450 million over the next four years for the construction of a new industrial complex in Pouso Alegre, in the South of the State, with built-up area of 60000 square meters, distributed in seven complexes, and generate 800 direct jobs. On site will be produced every year 200 million units of several classes of medicines.
The project is in its final phase, and the works will start in the second half. The production will meet the domestic and international markets, like the United States and the European Union. For that, the company will follow the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and EMA (European Medicines Agency), in an attempt to obtain international certification. Also follow the rules for the certification of green factory.
"We continue believing and investing in Brazil and in our professional, always trying to improve," said the CEO of Biolab, Paulo Marques. The quality, he said, is that causes the patient retain the brand, specialist in medicines for continuous use.
The manufacturer of pharmaceuticals Cimed also announced an investment of $100 million in the expansion of R your productive Park of vitamins in Pouso Alegre, in addition to the construction of a plant of solid drugs.
The new unit will rely on three lines, aimed at similar generic drugs and prescription-free. The expectation is to double the production capacity of solid drugs and 500 jobs to be created by the end of next year, when the unit must be opened.
The President of grupo Cimed, John Adibe, points out that Minas Gerais is an important State geographically, facilitating the distribution of production logistics. Currently, 40% of the company''s revenue is concentrated in the Southeast.
And speaking of revenue, the company accounts for steady growth. "The pharmaceutical industry is not shaken before a crisis because the drug is a product. And our strategy has always been the price. We can pass to the most attractive prices with quality retail, "says John Adibe. Proof of this is that, according to him, only in this year there was a 15% growth in the hiring of staff.
Specialized packaging in packaging production, ampoules and bottles destined for pharmaceutical industry, WIPO of Brazil – Stevanato Group belonging to Italian-announced in February last year an agreement with the State Government to invest R $100 million in Sete Lagoas, in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte.
Little more than a year after the launch ceremony of the cornerstone, the factory is up and production has begun.
"The first shipment of samples produced on site this July was sent to one of the company''s customers in Brazil. The production volume will grow gradually from now on, "press Stevanato Group''s. The plant will be officially opened in November.
Currently are employed in 80 local people, a number that will reach 200 when the units are operating at full capacity.
"The decision to invest in Brazil was made after precise analysis of the local market. The Brazil is the sixth-largest pharmaceutical market in the world and design that will continue to grow at double-digit rates, "said Marco Stevanato in February, Group Vice President.
With the brazilian unit, the Italian group has expanded to ten the number of factories, which are installed also in Italy, Denmark, Slovakia, Mexico and China.

Tax burden and are obstacles

In the midst of a widespread crisis, the numbers of drugs can – and should – be celebrated. But they could be even better, according to analysis of the research-based pharmaceutical industry association (Interfarma).
Some factors such as exchange rate variations, high taxation (34% of the price of medicine relates to tax), cargo theft on the roads during the transport of products and strict price control prevent a growth could be much bigger than the 13 percent recorded last year.
"There are many problems, which means that the industry has to reinvent itself to do more," says Pedro Bernardo, Director of Interfarma. A constant complaint in the industry is the high taxation, although the Federal Constitution establishes that the tax burden should take into consideration the essentiality of the product.
The index of medicinal products only for the cigarette and liquor, but is higher for example that levied on swimwear and some toys.
The Director emphasizes another important point: the participation of imports of products and inputs in the pharmaceutical market jumped 19 percentage points in 10 years, coming to represent 58% of the total sold in Brazil.
To give you an idea, in 2005 imports were 33 percent of the market. In the end, can have an impact in less investment in technology and job creation.
"The import of raw material and ready product is rising more than the billing. The increase of imports represents a gain that we''re failing to register. Of course we need investment and growth, but it could be much greater, "analyzes Pedro Bernardo.
He recalls that the cost of Brazil is very high, which involves very time-consuming processes and bureaucracy still, which often discourages investment in the production of inputs and medicines.
On the other hand, Brazil remains as one of the targets of the sector because of some features such as the ageing of the population-currently at 75.5 years, which is more common in the use of medicines.
But there are also other factors, such as the overweight population. It is estimated that 56% of Brazilians are overweight, a condition that promotes the emergence of more diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, causing consequently the greater need for use of medication steadily.