We know Brazilian pharma market is growing rapidly, but what will the next elections bring for Pharma industry

There is no question that Brazil's pharmaceutical market is growing at an above average international rate and, like the other BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) regions, is attracting a lot of attention from drugmakers. But what will next year's national elections ' due October 2010 - bring to the scenario?

Brazil's current President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva -p who has been in power for over seven years, has achieved success with social policies, but there have been significant problems in the area of health care. It is generally believed that health will be a major focus of the elections, with some likening this to the 'Obama agenda,' of the USA's President.

Discussing the political scenario with a small group of UK journalists, including The Pharma Letter's editor, as part of a visit to the country sponsored by Swiss drugmaker Nycomed (see also story November 30), Antonia Britto Filho, president of the research-based drugmakers' group Interfarma, said that one of the problems for the sector is that the federal budget is not sufficient to improve the system of health care access to the population.