Developing health services tops the priorities of Bahrainis who
are looking forward to high standard health infrastructure including high tech
equipment and qualified staff. After last year’s elections, they are optimistic
to see short and long term plans set to confront diseases and needed medicines
provided at affordable prices. Health issues are gradually making it to the top
of the priorities lists of the Members of the Parliament. Kuwait
has a very advanced and modern healthcare system, as well as a comprehensive
social service system. Major international health conferences are regularly
held in the country, through which significant developments in medical
treatment and associated new technologies are reviewed. This, coupled with the
unparalleled quality of training for all who work in the healthcare sector,
ensures that Kuwait remains in the forefront of providing its citizens with an
exemplary health service. In Qatar there’s a given that
medical care be available for all residents; citizens and expatriates.
Healthcare in the State of Qatar is comprehensive, diversified
and efficient in terms of equipment and human resources. Healthcare
establishments, cadres, curative and preventive medical services, and equipment
have undergone substantial upgrading and improvements. Oman has
a very efficient healthcare system and its drug market is growing rapidly, at
some 10% per year. This performance is being driven predominately by a rapid
increase in population and the growing contribution of the private sector.
Yemen's Ministry of Public Health is currently failing to cope
with the increasing demand for modern health services. It is therefore
constantly encouraging the private sector to establish hospitals and clinics.
More than 90 private companies are importing and trading in medical
instruments, supplies, and pharmaceuticals.
Lebanon has many investment enabling strengths that have
encouraged foreign companies to set up offices in recent years. These strengths
include a free market, a highly dollarized economy, the absence of controls on
the movement of capital and foreign exchange, a highly educated labor force,
good quality of life, and limited restrictions on investors. Syria
has both a public and a private healthcare system. The government is working to
ensure services are available in both urban and rural areas. Although most
villages in Syria have a government clinic or health center,
rural areas have fewer doctors and clinics. Jordan's total
expenditure on health, based on the latest available statistics, is estimated
at $325 million, around 9% of total GDP. $168 million of this constitutes
government expenditure on public health. The average per capita spending is
around $1,657 per year. USAID and WHO are major players, among other donors, in
funding upgrades in healthcare services and supporting reforms to Jordan's
health care system.
The Egyptian healthcare industry is going through a
period of considerable change, centering on a growing trend towards
privatization. While the government still retains a great degree of control,
the private sector now plays an increasingly important role in healthcare
provision, emerging largely as a result of the declining standard of public
sector care. There are more than 200 private hospitals in Egypt, operating
nearly 15% of all beds. The motto of the Libyan health policy
is "health for all by all". The goal of this policy is to create a society in
which every member can play an active role, both socially and economically, and
in which services are equally distributed among the whole population. The
annual consumption rate of pharmaceuticals stands at $20.5 per capita. Tunisia
has a developed healthcare system. All public and private healthcare
institutions are very strictly monitored by the Ministry of Health and the
medical standards are equivalent to anywhere in Europe. Seeking to diversify
and modernize the Algerian economy, the Algerian government
has embarked on an aggressive liberalization program to attract foreign direct
investment. Foreign participation in joint ventures, however, varies depending
on the sector. Although relatively small, the Moroccan medical
market offers considerable potential for further expansion, particularly now
that the long awaited introduction of a universal health insurance scheme
finally appears to be getting off the ground.
Turkey, having a population surpassing 70 million, is a growing
market for the medical products and services sectors. In fiscal year 2007, $4.7
million were allocated to the Turkish Ministry of Health by the Government. The
Ministry’s budget for 2007 showed a 12% decrease compared to that of the
previous year.
Despite the very large population, the Iranian market for
medical devices is relatively small, especially in per capita terms. The market
is expected to rise steadily over the next few years, due to both continued
investment in the healthcare system and low levels of domestic production
resulting in reliance on imported goods.
The Middle East & North Africa’s market for healthcare is so
diversified nowadays that it sometimes becomes difficult to draw a unified
business scheme for the whole territory. International investment in the region
depends heavily on the political and economical statuses of the target country;
still, foreign companies are rushing in to what they now see as one of the most
promising area for business in the world, and competition is growing fierce.
Sources:
US Commercial Service – www.buyusa.gov
Episcom Business Intelligence – www.episcom.com
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