حاجة السعوديين للأدوية «الجَنِيسَة» ترتفع لـ 8 مليارات دولار خلال 8 أعوام

A report from the Nasdaq Index Service indicated that the generic drug market in Saudi Arabia is expected to grow from $4 billion in 2024 to $8.11 billion by 2033 during the period of 2025-2033. The report mentioned that this accelerated growth will be due to the increasing need for healthcare, government initiatives to reduce spending on medications, and the growing awareness of accessible drug alternatives, in addition to supportive policies from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and investment in local pharmaceutical manufacturing. The generic drug market in the Kingdom is also set to expand due to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases. The report indicates that the Saudi Food and Drug Authority has developed more flexible procedures for approving generic drugs, prompting both foreign and local drug manufacturers to increase their offerings of drugs that are equivalent in effect to major branded medications. Furthermore, the multiple awareness campaigns focusing on disease prevention have made consumers, doctors, and healthcare providers more accepting of generic drugs, which have the same effect as globally branded medications. The report believes that with the steady increase in the Kingdom's population and the rise in chronic disease prevalence, there is a significant increase in the need for lower-cost generic drugs for patients; especially in light of government initiatives aimed at making healthcare more affordable by promoting the use of more generic medications, which would also help reduce spending on healthcare services. In April 2025, Saudi Arabia recorded a chronic disease prevalence rate of approximately 32.15%. These cases are attributed to diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. The report pointed out that one of the challenges still facing the generic drug market in the Kingdom is the continued belief among consumers that globally branded medications are more effective.