Saudi consumer healthcare spend to hit 4% by 2013

A report by Companies and Markets has projected that consumers in Saudi Arabia will spend 4% of their GDP on healthcare by 2013, the Saudi Gazette has reported. The 'Saudi Arabia Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Report Q1 2010' said that from 2009 to 2014, the pharmaceutical market is expected to post a compound annual growth rate of 6.44% in both US dollar and local currency terms. The report also urged the kingdom to raise its medical training standards to rival Jordan, a popular medical tourism destination for Arab patients owing to both its quality of care and medical expertise.