Haematinics continues to dominate

How big is the women’s healthcare market in India? By how much is it growing?

Kumar Hinduja

The women’s healthcare market stands at Rs 4336 crores growing at 7.5 per cent value growth, while volume growth stands at -2.1 per cent, price led growth at 4.1 per cent and new introductions have been growing at 5.5 per cent.

Which therapy areas dominate the market? Why? Who are the major players?

Haematinics continues to dominate with a value of Rs 1500 crores and is growing at nine per cent value growth, progestrogens and combinations seen more progressive at 15 per cent value growth. Due to lack of innovation the market remained largely dependent on haematinics and hormones which together constitute about 80 per cent of women’s healthcare market.

Major Players
Company
FY 2013
VAL Growth FY 2013(%)
Zydus Cadila
338
7
Emcure
314
10
Sun
268
28
Franco Indian
216
25
Mankind
197
-3
Pfizer
180
0
Cipla
155
-44
Abbott
153
9
Novartis Intl
123
-10
Alkem
102
20

Typically how much of a company’s portfolio is attributed to women’s health? Has the market moved beyond contraception? Has the market matured?

On an average 11 per cent portfolio amongst the top 10 players is attributed to women’s healthcare, still there is high dependency on contraception seen in at least four of the top 10 players. The market is evolving slowly and not much is happening towards innovation.

Women’s healthcare Portfolio of major players
Company
Total sales
(in crores)
WHC sales
(in crores)
Contraception sales (in crores)
Value of WHC portfolio (%)
Value of contraception portfolio (%)
Zydus Cadila
3055
338
194
11
57
Emcure
1819
314
0
17
0
Sun
3638
268
71
7
27
Franco Indian
623
216
0
35
0
Mankind
2584
197
150
8
76
Pfizer
2478
180
94
7
52
Cipla
3814
155
85
4
55
Abbott
5245
153
0
3
0
Novartis Intl
1295
123
39
9
32
Alkem
2716
102
0
4
0
DATA for FY 2013

Are companies looking at newer products and therapies? Are they actively investing in R&D? Which companies stand out uniquely on these two parameters?

MNC’s typically are known to bring innovation, however, India companies continue to see me-too offerings. MNC’s are more careful now to bring their innovation in India looking into the patent and policy related issues.

New Products
Company
Total sales of NIs (in crores)
Sun
26
Emcure
21
Bafna Pharma
20
Cadila Pharma
17
Alkem
15
Mankind
10
Sanzyme Ltd
10
Akumentis Health
10
Bharat Serum
9
Alembic
5
Zydus Cadila
5
Merck Limited
7
NI=New Introductions
Data for FY 2013
NI value benchmark> 5crs

What are the challenges of operating in the segment for companies? Is it a revenue generating stream for companies and do you see more companies entering into the segment?

We see this segment largely crowded. There exists a constant movement of new entrants as well as players exiting segment ,thus the overall attractiveness remains less due to lack of innovation, high cost associated with sales force and manufacturing.

Women’s healthcare products sales in urban and rural areas
   
FY 2010
 
FY 2011/12
 
FY 2012/12
 
FY 2013/12
 
Urban/ Extra urban
Town class
Value (crores)
Value
growth (%)
Value (crores)
Value
growth (%)
Value (crores)
Value
growth (%)
Value (crores)
Value
growth (%)
Urban CLASS I
1079
19
1239
15
1348
9
1481
10
Urban Metro
921
22
1078
17
1147
6
1207
5
Extra Urban CLASS II to IV
683
22
768
12
822
7
879
7
Extra Urban Rural
429
14
626
27
717
14
769
7
All India All India townclass
3175
20
3712
17
4034
9
4336
7

Who is the typical target audience here- urban or rural women? Statistics on this. Has the ratio changed over the years? How?

The market remains largely urban driven, the rural growth slowed down in 2013 significantly compared to previous years.

What does the future of the segment look like?

In the future we see

  • New Introductions & Innovation drying up.
  • Chronic therapies generating better growth & more players shifting focus to the chronic side.
  • MNC’s will be more careful to bring innovative products in India post Glivec (Novartis) episode
  • MNC’s increasingly not willing to spend on R & D in India.
  • Contraceptive pills stagnate while consumption of non-contraceptive modes to grow
  • Stringent MTP act & applications leading to reduced usage of MTP pills. MTP Kits have also moved towards doctor dispensing route from retail/trade channel.

shalini.g@expressindia.com

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