Multinationals, which have a substantial presence in the region, have gained from this business, particularly those operating Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. These three countries rank among the 12 biggest pharmaceutical markets in the world. However, the potential of other Latin American countries can not be discounted.
Multinational companies continue to dominate the sector.
Some markets, such as Ecuador, are almost entirely dominated by foreign operators. In large part, local firms remain small and fragmented. The only countries in which local companies remain predominant are Argentina, Uruguay and Chile. The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2001. All rights reserved.