Innovation in European healthcare – what can Sweden learn? - LIF

The United Kingdom is a major producer of
pharmaceuticals
• UK ranks fourth in the world in 2007 in terms of value of exports, behind Germany,
Switzerland and the United States.
• At the same time, pharmaceutical care is a major component of expenditure on health care
in the United Kingdom, both within the NHS, where it accounts for a total of £10.8 billion.
• The UK healthcare industry (pharma, medical biotechnology and medical technology
sectors) employs over 100,000 people, largely in highly skilled jobs, in companies ranging
from large multi-nationals to SMEs.
• The industry invested over £4.4 billion in R&D in the UK in 2009, over 28 per cent of all
business R&D. It also generated over £10 billion in value added in 2009, representing over 7
per cent of total manufacturing.
• It is also a major exporter, with 2009 exports of pharmaceuticals and medical technologies
accounting for over £24 billion.
• The UK has 64 companies whose primary business activity is to develop biotechnologies
that can be applied to industrial uses. These companies together generate sales of £230m
per year based on the latest financial data and employ 1,600 people.
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