Consumer Health

In 2023, the COVID-19 pandemic has lost some of its disruptive potency; however, analgesic sales in Azerbaijan are ticking upwards in value terms (with the exception of adult aspirin). Value sales are being pushed by Azerbaijan's reliance on imports,…

Even after seeing exceptional current value growth in 2022, it is anticipated that analgesics will continue to experience double-digit growth in 2023. This can primarily be attributed to the substantial increase in COVID-19 cases in China starting…

The reopened border between mainland China and Hong Kong in early 2023 had significant implications for the demand of analgesic remedies within the city, which rose considerably. This growth can be attributed to a shortage of analgesic remedies…

The driving force behind the growth of analgesics in India is the Millennial population, which includes those born between 1980 and 1994. This demographic, consisting of 328 million people, significantly drives demand for analgesics. The key reason…

In the context of transforming the health system in Indonesia, one of the agendas currently being pursued by the Ministry of Health is to increase pharmaceutical resilience by increasing domestic production of the top 10 value medicines, which…

Sales of analgesics in Japan have seen solid growth in current value terms in 2023 backed by increased opportunities for consumers to go out, the recovery in the number of inbound tourists, and a move away from the practice of wearing face masks on a…

Analgesics is projected to continue to post fast retail volume growth over 2023. The potential for even higher growth is restricted by many households retaining stocks of analgesics purchased during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. One clear…

The return of consumers to their busy-pandemic lifestyles had a positive impact on demand for analgesics in Malaysia in 2023. Within this, topical analgesics/anaesthetic remained the largest subcategory, as well as being the key driver of growth.…

Analgesics is expected to register moderate constant value growth in 2023. In spite of continuing very high inflation, volume growth is also expected to be healthy, and is supported by continuing population growth. Price limits on analgesics is also…

Due to the high rates of vaccination amongst Singaporeans, systemic analgesics were purchased in high quantities in 2022 to fulfil the demand to self-medicate amidst post-vaccination symptoms and common cold symptoms from later variants of the…

Despite the overall waning impact of the pandemic in South Korea, simultaneous new outbreaks of COVID-19, influenza, and the common cold (referred to as a “tripledemic” in the country) are leading to a sharp increase in the number of consumers…

The topical analgesics/anaesthetic category is poised to record the fastest growth in volume and current value terms within analgesics in 2023, and looks set to show improved results in both respects as compared to 2022. These types of products…

Despite a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases, demand for analgesics continued to grow in 2023. This was partly due to the revival of pre-pandemic behavioural patterns, including the cessation of mask wearing and social distancing, which meant…

Towards the end of the review period, demand for analgesics was supported by the widening of the consumer base for these products as the advantages of using analgesics to manage headaches and other moderate types of pain became better known among the…

Analgesics in Uzbekistan is still developing with growth opportunities in several subcategories. Current value sales remained in double-digits in 2023 continuing the trend seen throughout the review period. Analgesics tend to be purchased in…

The pandemic boosted demand for analgesics in Vietnam, as consumers believed that it was necessary to store analgesics at home as a precautionary measure. Adult and paediatric acetaminophen performed particularly well in 2020 and 2021, as…

The Asian consumer is changing. Traditional values that served the collective in terms of both society and the family are on the wane, with COVID-19 lockdowns accelerating a new focus on individualism and the self. This report explores how Asian…

The briefing introduces the Cities Households Necessities Spending Index. The index ranks 1,075 cities by household expenditure on non-discretionary items, namely food, housing, and clothing and footwear. This analysis focuses on 160 major cities.…

After seeing a weakening in its growth rate in 2020, when the pandemic first hit the region, consumer health in Asia Pacific has since been recording strong growth. Further sales increases are expected over the forecast period, driven by factors such…

Consumer health in Azerbaijan is seeing something of a resurgence in 2023. New entrants are livening up the marketplace, and fresh medications are making their mark. The once-stringent Tariff Regulatory Authority has taken a step back, loosening the…

In Bangladesh, consumer health faces the challenge of inflation across various categories in 2023. Meanwhile, consumer preferences are shifting towards modern medicine due to its perceived quick effectiveness, leading to a decline in demand for…

In 2023, Cambodia seems to have recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, consumer health demand is rising due to modernisation, urbanisation, and health risks from harmful chemicals. Nonetheless, challenges still exist, such as external…

Consumer health in China recorded high single-digit current value growth in 2022, mainly due to the COVID-19-related sales surge for OTC products, and this growth trend is set to continue in 2023, mainly due to rising health awareness. In terms of…

Post-pandemic 2023 saw lifted restrictions lead to the return of tourists to Hong Kong and a rebound in tourism consumption, particularly for OTC products. Mainland Chinese tourists, who were once a key consumer group for these products, began to…

Rising health awareness amongst consumers in India is set to lead to double-digit current value growth in consumer health in 2023. In the wake of the pandemic, people have undergone a transformative shift in their priorities, emphasising health and…

Overall consumer health is set to maintain growth in current value terms in 2023, although this is expected to be slower than in the previous three years. The pandemic has ceased to have a notable impact in Indonesia, and there are many categories…

Sales of OTC products in Japan continue on the path to recovery in 2023 as the country sees an end to the pandemic. With the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the pandemic to be over in early 2023 there have been increased opportunities to go…

In general, consumer health in Kazakhstan is performing well towards the end of the review period. However, high inflation, increases in the costs of raw materials for the production of medicines and changed or disrupted logistics/supply routes have…

In 2023, health sensitivities among consumers in Laos, due to local diet and weather, have led to increased demand for consumer health products. Likewise, the prevalence of self-medication persists due to limited hospital access, leading consumers to…

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Malaysian consumers have been increasingly focused on preventative health measures, and this trend continued into 2023. Alongside the adoption of healthier diets and exercise behaviours, consumers sought out vitamins…

Consumers are increasingly adopting a preventative approach to maintaining good health, which continues to drive interest in vitamins and dietary supplements in 2023. Established brands continue to dominate sales as brand loyalty is relatively high…

Pakistan’s economy continues to struggle and the government secured a further USD3 billion bailout with the IMF in July 2023, avoiding an impending default. Inflation continues to be very high and is being driven by several factors, including…

With the threat of the pandemic leaving people’s minds in 2023, growth in consumer health in Singapore is set to stabilise, due to the gradual normalisation of consumers’ lives. With the majority of the population vaccinated, and COVID-19 likened to…

The self-medication trend is growing in South Korea, supporting further sales growth for analgesics, and cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies, especially since the prevalence of the “tripledemic” in the country, consisting of COVID-19,…

During the pandemic Sri Lanka received international support to purchase the necessary medication to help them fight COVID-19. However, due to the current economic crisis the Government of Sri Lanka has had to impose import restrictions due to…

Consumer health in Taiwan has performed positively on the whole in 2023, with growth in total current value sales remaining robust and most categories either expanding in volume terms or contracting at a slower pace than in 2022. The easing of the…

The market for consumer health products in Thailand continued to enjoy healthy growth in current value terms in 2023. This was driven, to a large extent, by the revival of normal pre-pandemic patterns of behaviour, including the return of consumers…

Positive sales growth was registered across most categories of consumer health in the Philippines in 2023 as the strong focus on health and wellbeing that has spread among the population since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to spur…

Consumer health in 2023 is exhibiting solid current value growth as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic diminishes. With the resurgence of seasonal ailments, categories such as cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies and analgesics are…

Current value sales of consumer health in Vietnam continue to record strong growth in line with the rising trend of health and wellness in the country. Post-pandemic, the majority of Vietnamese consumers are taking greater care of their health, and…

As COVID-19 restrictions lift and society returns to face-to-face interaction, the regular seasonal sicknesses —colds and flus—are making their own return to Azerbaijan. More social mingling means not just handshakes and hugs on the rise; sniffling…

Even though cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies recorded over 40% current value growth in 2022, it is anticipated that the category will continue to achieve high single-digit growth in 2023. Starting from late 2022, the end of the zero-COVID…

The removal of mask-wearing and social distancing measures in March 2023 led to rising demand for cough, cold and allergy remedies as respiratory infections increased. Since February 2020, local seasonal influenza in Hong Kong has remained at a low…

In 2023, cough, cold, and allergy (hay fever) remedies in India is set to experience moderate single-digit current value growth, driven predominantly by the demand for decongestants. Decongestants is expected to demonstrate above-average growth due…

Although the pandemic is considered over, this is not expected to immediately reduce sales of OTC cough and cold medicines in Indonesia in 2023, with both retail volume and current value growth set to continue across most categories. However, the…

Sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies in Japan have continued to recover in 2023. This is largely due to increased opportunities for consumers to go out and a shift away from the practice of wearing face masks on a daily basis. With…

Cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies is experiencing a level of stabilisation in 2023. Following strong retail volume growth in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, almost all categories are projected to see slower retail volume…

Cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies witnessed an improved performance in constant value terms in 2023. This was due, in a large part, to a return of pre-pandemic lifestyles, including the reopening of schools and workspaces, which…

As people become more aware of the importance of self-care, there is a growing demand for OTC medications to treat cough and cold. Access to healthcare is limited and as such it is easier to buy OTC medications. Therefore, despite the increase in…

The pandemic brought about a huge increase in sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies, especially from the end of 2021, with later COVID-19 variants being revealed to have unique symptoms resembling those of the common cold. In February…