and upper classes in these countries is growing rapidly, and the spending power of these groups is becoming important to the global economy in many sectors. As the populations of these countries become more affluent, a greater proportion of their GDP is being spent on health care, and this is leading to rapid growth in many different healthcare product sectors in these countries. For example, China’s prescription drug market, which is projected to be the world’s second largest by 2020, is projected to grow to more than $110 billion by 2015 - up from $50 billion in 2010.25 The medical device market in China is showing a similar growth pattern, with the current $17 billion medtech market (world’s fourth largest) projected to more than double within the next five years.26 This growth in emerging economies is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, and as it does, it will open vast new markets for established healthcare products companies in more developed countries, and will become increasingly important as a percentage of sales of global brands. At the same time, it will create opportunities for smaller, U.S. based companies to partner with large multinationals and domestic companies in the BRICs that have established distribution channels in these markets. SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY CREATED BY HEALTHCARE REFORM & RESTRUCTURING As a result of the strong growth in healthcare expenditures, for at least the next decade, and likely much longer, the healthcare industry in the U.S. will be going through a period of significant reform and restructuring as the increasing healthcare costs place unsustainable fiscal burdens on government programs. After years of dire predictions and endless debate amongst elected officials, pundits, corporate leaders, and patient advocacy groups, there is recognition that long term healthcare liabilities are a critical issue and require broad reform to control their erowth before they lead to irreparable fiscal harm. While much of the att