The two key market drivers in terms of OTC analgesic sales over the review period have been the government's promotion of self-medication for minor ailments, which is linked to its desire to take pressure off GPs and manifested in a continuing switch of medicaments from pharmacy-only to general sales status, and the abolition of retail price maintenance (RPM) in 2001. Consumer healthcare was the last bastion of price-protection in the UK and the ending of RPM has been instrumental in completing the transformation of the OTC medicines market into a fully-fledged consumer market, regarded by manufacturers as functioning in a similar manner to mainstream fmcg markets. This has resulted in new formats and stronger formulations and has produced some intensive marketing, with branded manufacturers anxious to stem the rising trend towards own-label. Added-value propositions, however, have proved elusive in such a commodity market in which demand tends to be constant from one year to the next and driven largely by need.

The two key market drivers in terms of OTC analgesic sales over the review period have been the government's promotion of self-medication for minor ailments, which is linked to its desire to take pressure off GPs and manifested in a continuing switch of medicaments from pharmacy-only to general sales status, and the abolition of retail price maintenance (RPM) in 2001. Consumer healthcare was the last bastion of price-protection in the UK and the ending of RPM has been instrumental in completing the transformation of the OTC medicines market into a fully-fledged consumer market, regarded by manufacturers as functioning in a similar manner to mainstream fmcg markets. This has resulted in new formats and stronger formulations and has produced some intensive marketing, with branded manufacturers anxious to stem the rising trend towards own-label. Added-value propositions, however, have proved elusive in such a commodity market in which demand tends to be constant from one year to the next and driven largely by need.

Other Mintel reports of relevance include:

- Analgesics, Market Intelligence, September 2002

- Cold and Flu Remedies, Market Intelligence, September 2002.

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