Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Medical Devices, Medical Tourism & Life Sciences sector in Turkey

Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Medical Devices, Medical Tourism & Life Sciences sector in Turkey

Health is one of the leading sectors in Turkey with the highest development acceleration. Especially with its growth trend in the last 5 years, the sector is one of the top three sectors that are mostly invested on, together with energy and telecommunication.

Market overview

In fiscal year 2012/2013, TL14.4 billion (approx. US$7.5 billion) was allocated to MOH by the Government. A key driver behind Turkey’s continued healthcare budget growth is the country’s enhanced health insurance coverage and the demand for new healthcare facilities across the country. Besides state investments, the private sector is closely involved in building private healthcare facilities, contributing to demand for state of the art medical equipment and devices.

Turkish Medical Devices and Supplies Exports by Year (US $)

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

10,682,255

117,366,870

117,144,702

138,448,103

182,296,335

Key opportunities

  • The total bed capacity in Turkish hospitals is above 200,000, an increase of more than 10% over the past five years. The privatisation and transformation of the healthcare system, establishment of new healthcare facilities under the PPP model and on-going hospital projects of the Ministry of Health and offer significant opportunities for foreign exports and investment.

  • EU harmonisation of standards, part of the overall sector modernisation, will reduce the specific barriers to entry to the Turkish market. This will make those operating in other EU and international markets much more easily able to sell to Turkey.

  • Demographic factors, including an increasing population and longer life expectancy, will boost demand for healthcare in Turkey.

  • Introduction of universal health insurance coverage.

  • Potential for generic sector growth, with market demand patterns structured by a cost conscious government and population.

Export trade may benefit from closer links with the EU, an improvement in local industry standards and an increase in international investment.

Latest export opportunities – Life Sciences

Latest export opportunities – Turkey

Getting into the market

In order for a UK company to market its medical equipment in Turkey, we advise the company to find an exclusive distributor or representative in the Turkish market. They should have a strong reseller base to market and service the products across the country, follow public and private medical equipment tenders and be knowledgeable about shipping products into Turkey. Medical equipment exported to Turkey has to comply with Turkish customs regulations. A foreign company’s representative in Turkey has to register the product in the National Data Bank that keeps track of all medical equipment marketed in Turkey. This will then place the product on the all-important approved list of the Social Security Agency.

More about doing business in Turkey

Contacts

Market intelligence is critical when doing business overseas, and UKTI can provide bespoke market research and support during overseas visits though our chargeable Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS).

  • Asiye Yaman, British Embassy Turkey. Tel: +90 (312) 455 3246 or email: [email protected].

Contact your local international trade team

Events

UKTI runs a range of events for exporters, including seminars in the UK, trade missions to overseas markets and support for attendance at overseas trade shows.

Istanbul Health Expo

Jan 2014

International Medical Products, Laboratory and Hospital Equipments Exhibition

Istanbul CNR Expo Centre www.cnrhealthexpo.com

Expomed

April 2014

Technical Medical Equipment, Photo Laboratory, Rehabilitation Equipment

Istanbul Tüyap Fair, Convention and Congress www.tuyap.com.tr

Latest events – Life Sciences

Useful links

More about OMIS and other UKTI services for exporters

Sectors: Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare & Medical, and Life Sciences
Countries: Turkey
Export Action Plan