The Turkish Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies’ (AFID) “Vision 2023” report released earlier this month recommends ways to make the country among the top 10 countries in health services by 2023. Turkey’s pharmaceutical market was valued at $11.2 billion in 2011, ranking 16th in the world. However, in 2011, Turkey’s 70 clinical trials supported by industry, out of 240 total trials on which it spent $40 million, ranked it 36th among countries in regard to the number of clinical trials. In 2010, pharmaceutical R&D spending accounted for 0.008% of the country’s GDP. The Vision encourages Turkey to increase its pharmaceutical R&D spending and clinical research spending, which are projected to be $76 million and $44 million in 2012, respectively, and to increase expertise on R&D and product and service exports. The Vision also recommends increasing Turkish pharmaceutical production and export value from $5 billion and $587 million in 2011, respectively, by shifting its focus from low-technology to medium- and high-level technology. In 2012, Turkey’s share of total pharmaceutical exports is expected to be 7%, taking into account all pharmaceutical exports and clinical research services exports, of which half are classified as service exports. Another goal of the Vision is to establish Turkey as a shared pharmaceutical management and service location.

Source: AFID