Egypt Consumer Health Market Research Report: Forecast (2023-2028)

Market Definition

Consumer health is a branch of the healthcare sector that deals with wellness, nutrition, & skincare products, along with OTC (Over-the-Counter) medications available without a prescription. These products are found easily at independent retailers, specialist retailers, departmental stores, pharmacies or drugstores, supermarkets, or hypermarkets.

Market Insights & Analysis: Egypt Consumer Health Market (2023-28)

The Egypt Consumer Health Market is projected to grow at a noteworthy CAGR of around 5.5% during the forecast period, i.e., 2023-28. The growth of the market is primarily driven by the government efforts toward developing better health infrastructure, increasing consumer awareness of health & lifestyle, and the enormous presence of public & private healthcare facilities like specialty hospitals, clinics, etc.

Besides, growing medical tourism in Egypt owing to low rates for both treatments & tourist facilities, the favorable weather of the country, an extensive range of services at integrated medical institutions, and the availability of skilled & well-trained healthcare personnel is another prominent aspect contributing to the growth of the consumer health industry in the country. In the past few years, Egypt has gained a strong reputation within the Middle East & Africa, mainly due to skilled healthcare professionals & infrastructure available at competitive costs & easier visa access than other countries, which, in turn, has helped the country become a medical tourism hub, thus contributing in enhancing the Egypt Consumer Health Market size.

Currently, the country's healthcare sector is undergoing some rapid & significant changes, i.e., opening various prospects for companies to invest. Digital health is seeing tremendous developments, proven progress, and notable investments in terms of using AI, mobile computing, and wearable devices to increase the efficiency & quality of cost-effective healthcare services.? With the mounting prevalence of chronic diseases among Egyptians, the demand for specialized medical care clinics & hospitals has increased significantly in the country to facilitate advanced & cost-competitive treatment.

As a result, there is a notable surge in investments as well as innovations in the country's healthcare facilities, along with the inclusion of technologies like ML (Machine Learning), AI (Artificial Intelligence), and the IoT (Internet of Things) in order to provide advanced medical treatment to residents. Also, Analgesics are expected to witness strong growth in the market over the coming years on account of sustained demand for products like Panadol, i.e., commonly used to treat several different symptoms and is often the first line of medication for people feeling unwell.

Furthermore, the growing population levels, increased health awareness, and favorable regulatory policies for foreign companies to invest in the country's healthcare sector are other crucial aspects projected to fuel the growth of the consumer health market in Egypt over the coming years.

Market Dynamics

Key Driver: Ever-growing Health Consciousness Among Egyptians

Modern customers are health-conscious and often look for new ways to ensure their health & well-being. As a result, they choose self-medication over other medications, i.e., augmenting the sales of preventative consumer healthcare products like OTC drugs, which do not require a prescription from a healthcare provider and are easily available at any store or pharmacy. Consumers often purchase these products, on their own, for relief from common health problems like clogged nose, cold, nasal congestion, or cough.

Besides, dietary supplements, sports nutrition products, weight control products, and functional foods & beverages are also being purchased increasingly by the rapidly growing health-conscious population in Egypt. Hence, this emerging trend of self-medication among consumers owing to their ever-increasing health consciousness is the prime aspect projected to drive the Egypt Consumer Health Market during 2023-28.

Growth Restraint: Lack of Consumer Knowledge of OTC Drugs Usage & the Presence of Counterfeit Medications to Hinder the Market Growth

Despite growing awareness of healthcare, many Egyptians still lack knowledge about OTC drugs & their appropriate usage, i.e., leading to ever-increasing instances of drug misuse & overuse, leading to the rising health risks & complications, which is the prime aspects projected to hinder the growth of Egypt Consumer Health Market.

In addition, owing to high import costs & taxes, some OTC drugs in Egypt have prices higher than consumer affordability, which makes it difficult for them to buy these products, i.e., another growth challenge to the market. Moreover, the availability of counterfeit drugs in the country is another big concern for consumers to purchase products as they are not sure about their safety & effectiveness. Hence, these aspects are likely to hamper the expansion of the Egypt Consumer Health Market in the years to come.

Market Segmentation

Based on Disease Type:

• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Respiratory Diseases
• Lifestyle Diseases
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Depression
  • High Blood Pressure
  • High Cholesterol
  • Others

Of them all, diabetic diseases are the most prominent contributors to the Egypt Consumer Health Market growth. It owes to a rapidly growing number of diabetic patients, mainly due to sedentary lifestyles, i.e., resulting in increasing obesity rates. According to IDF (International Diabetes Federation), Egypt ranks ninth in the world, in terms of diabetes prevalence, with nearly 8.85 million adult diabetic patients in early 2020.

As per the organization, approximately 45% of the diabetic population remains untreated due to a lack of awareness as well as the country's shortage of healthcare facilities. The government of Egypt is actively focusing on providing quality diabetic care to patients by launching several initiatives. As a result, Egyptians are becoming increasingly aware of such initiatives, hence augmenting the demand for diabetic therapeutics in the country & thus contributing to the consumer health industry.

Based on Category:

• Weight Management & Wellbeing
• OTC Pharmaceuticals
• Sports Nutrition
• Paediatric Health

Here, OTC (Over-the-Counter) pharmaceuticals hold a prominent share of the consumer health market in Egypt. Over the past few years, OTC drug usage has grown consistently in the country, mainly because they can be purchased from a healthcare provider without a prescription, and also that they are safe & effective for relieving symptoms associated with common health issues, such as pain, allergies, fever, cold, & flu, and digestive disorders.

Consequently, more & more Egyptians are into opting for these drugs for various health problems, as cited above. In addition, the convenience and accessibility associated with OTC drugs are also accelerating their adoption in the country and stimulating overall market growth. Moreover, the cost-effective nature of OTC drugs compared to prescription drugs, their mounting sales through e-commerce platforms, and the rapidly increasing number of companies in OTC medications are other crucial aspects contributing to their accelerating demand in Egypt, which, in turn, is propelling the growth of the consumer health industry in the country.

On the other hand, sports nutrition products are also gaining traction in Egypt. With the re-opening of gyms, consumers have begun their fitness regimes & sports activities, i.e., augmenting the demand for sports nutrition products like protein/energy bars, especially among the rising numbers of young urban professionals who lead hectic lifestyles & seek convenience products to help support them during their busy daily schedules. Moreover, many Egyptians are becoming increasingly health conscious and showing greater interest in improving their physical fitness & athletic performance, i.e., another prominent aspect accelerating the demand for sports nutrition products like protein supplements, pre-workout supplements, & post-workout supplements, which help support muscle growth & recovery.

In addition, various health awareness campaigns & initiatives by both the government and healthcare organizations in order to educate the public about the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle and encourage them to take measures to improve their health are also contributing to the mounting demand for sport nutrition products in the country.

Recent Developments in the Egypt Consumer Health Industry

• October 2022: Bayer announced setting up an OTC (Over-the-Counter) production hub in Egypt in partnership with one of the local pharma companies. The company's three-year strategy is to expand the business within the Egyptian market by producing 60-70% of OTC medicines for local consumers by the end of 2025. In addition, Bayer is also planning to invest $12 million in local manufacturing and will re-launch 5 new consumer health-related products by the end of 2025.

Gain a Competitive Edge with Our Egypt Consumer Health Market Report

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2. This report also highlights current market trends & future projections, allowing businesses to identify emerging opportunities & potential challenges. By understanding market forecasts, companies can align their strategies & stay ahead of the competition.
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