Dermatologicals in Saudi Arabia

2020 IMPACT

Restrictions on access to dermatological health services support OTC demand

In response to the pressure that was expected to come on the Saudi health service as a result of the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Kingdom during the second and third quarters of 2020, the Ministry of Health advised all dentists’ surgeries and dermatology clinics to accept only urgent appointments, in order to reserve treatment for critical patients and to hold all appointments pen for at least two weeks, unless particularly urgent. This restriction was subsequently relaxed to allow these health clinics to operate at 50% capacity.

The official response to COVID-19 has minimal impact on sales of dermatologicals

While sales of dermatologicals are not expected to have been directly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the COVID-19 virus having little discernible impact on the skin, various aspects of the response to the pandemic situation can be expected to have had some impact on category sales. For instance, the Saudi government, the country’s leading health insurance companies and various hospitals and medical centres have played a vital role in supporting sales of dermatologicals, among other OTC consumer health products, by implementing various initiatives in response to the pandemic.

Topical antifungals sees the launch of Miconaz

Topical antifungals witnessed negative sales growth in 2020 as consumers focused their spending on other categories of OTC consumer health that can treat and alleviate the known symptoms of COVID-19. Nevertheless, one bright spot in the category during the year was the launch of the Miconaz brand by Nahdi Medical Co.

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