One of the inevitable consequences of the continually increasing life expectancy throughout most of the western world is an older population that, almost by definition, is more susceptible to greater risks of contacting one treatable illness or another. Little wonder, then, that the sales of drugs and medicines in this part of the world are growing much faster than for most other products. In 2003, global sales of medical and pharmaceutical products were estimated at an astonishing US$435 billion, according to industry statistics, with the average annual growth of nine per cent in coming years predicted by most market forecasts.
展开▼
