This report profiles Indonesia’s pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, discussing market trends through 2015 and outlook for 2016 and beyond. The report also highlights leading players in the sector including Kalbe Farma, Techno Scan Pacific and Kimia Farma.

The Indonesian pharmaceutical and healthcare sector has recorded double digit growth over the last few years. However, in value terms, domestic pharmaceutical industry was minuscule in size compared to the markets of the U.S. and Japan. Low per capita income, subsidies, lower penetration and accessibility of healthcare were the main reasons for this low figure. Hence, immense potential exists for the growth of domestic pharmaceutical sector. However, the sector is often marred by regulatory flip flops, drug approval delays, currency fluctuations, unethical practices and pricing controls.

In 2015, the sector saw a challenging period due to lower economic growth and higher inflation. Depreciation of IDR, higher electricity tariffs and higher minimum wages also led to an erosion in the profitability margins of pharmaceutical manufacturers during the year. However, the implementation of the National Health Insurance (JKN) program by the Social Security Agency (BPJS) in 2014 helped to revive the sector. The growth was backed majorly by the generics segment. The JKN program has made Indonesia one of the fastest growing pharmaceuticals markets in the region. Both domestic and foreign companies are expanding their production capacities to meet the expected demand growth over the next few years thanks to the program.

Going forward, the sector is expected to be back on double-digit growth path, backed by government support and various macro growth drivers, including rise in per capita income, rise in health insurance penetration, proliferation of healthcare services across the remote areas, increase in foreign investments and increase in government as well as private expenditure on health. However, frequent policy changes and rising prices of raw materials may act as deterrents for the growth of this sector.

Key Points:

• Government accounted for around 40% of the total healthcare spending while the private sector accounted for the remainder. The healthcare market saw a CAGR of around 20% during 2006-2011 and is expected to surpass USD 30bn by 2015.

• The government aims to have every Indonesian covered by health insurance before 2019 under the new program Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN), with nearly IDR 20tn (US$1.6 billion) allocated to cover premiums for the poor in 2014. The scheme was launched on Dec 31, 2013 by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

• Indonesian companies accounted for 70% of the pharmaceutical market while foreign companies accounted for the remainder. The pharmaceutical market grew at a CAGR of 12% during 2007-12. In 2013, it remained stagnant in USD terms. However, the sector recovered in 2014, recording a growth of 21% y/y. It further grew by 13% in 2015.

• Indonesia had an average GDP growth rate of 5.9% during 2006-2012. However, FY15 proved to be tough for the economy with GDP slowing to a five-year low of 4.8%. However, the healthcare sector was resilient even amidst the dip in the overall economy.