Upcoming Trade Shows in Brazil for Health

As the most populous nation in Latin America, Brazil is not only a demographic giant but also the largest healthcare market in the region. Despite its emerging economy status, Brazil’s healthcare spending is estimated at 10.7% of its GDP in 2023. This equates to approximately $1,258 per capita. The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on Brazil’s health industry, with more than 37.8 million infections and over 705,000 deaths reported by September 2023. The country’s response to the pandemic, particularly its vaccination campaign, was swift and decisive. 98% of the adult population received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 86% received two or more doses. Brazil’s strategy initially relied on imported vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Janssen, with local production of AstraZeneca and Coronavac vaccines by Fiocruz and Butantan Institutes, respectively. Brazil’s public laboratories and universities played a crucial role in the fight against the pandemic. They partnered with international institutions to develop and test vaccines and drugs, and contributed significantly to research and development efforts, including the creation of diagnostic kits. Brazil’s pharmaceutical market is a key component of its health industry, ranking sixth globally behind the United States, China, Japan, Germany, and France. In 2022, the market saw sales of $20.67 billion, a 26.2% increase from the previous year. This upward trend continued in 2023, with sales expected to reach $24 billion. Despite a 9.89% decrease in pharmaceutical imports in 2022, amounting to $9.97 billion, the demand for high-cost medicines remains strong, with the United States and Europe being the primary suppliers. The market dynamics are influenced by Brazil’s reliance on imported raw materials, particularly from China and India, which supply the bulk of the ingredients needed for pharmaceutical manufacturing. The U.S. holds a significant share, accounting for 14% of all pharmaceutical imports into Brazil.