The Market for Medical Devices in Brazil, Russia, India & China

Evaluate the status, opportunities and threats for medical device companies in Brazil, Russia, India and China now and in the future. This report includes market forecasts to 2011 plus free quarterly-updated market outlook reports on each country, keeping you up to date with developments for a full year. Many claim the BRIC countries present the most exciting opportunity for medical device and equipment companies. Maybe, but separating the fact from the fiction is essential in making sound business judgements.

This insightful report provides:

• A comprehensive comparative overview of key drivers in the four markets
• A detailed analysis of the health structure, funding, service and outlook for each market
• 5-Year forecasts to 2011 and market valuations for each markets
• Quarterly updated reports of key developments in the market

These leading emerging and rapidly-growing economies represented a total market of 2.7 billion people and a combined GDP of US$5.2 trillion in 2006. But where do commercial opportunities exist for medical manufacturers now?

The combined GDP of the four BRIC countries in 2006 was estimated to be US$5,2 trillion. China accounts for US$2,532 billion or 48.1% of this. Combined BRIC GDP in 2006 stood at 19.5% of the combined GDP of the G6 countries; this compares with 13.4% in 2002. BRIC GDP accounted for 11% of world GDP in 2006, compared with 8.5% in 2002.

Putting things in perspective

The BRIC countries' total projected health expenditure in 2006 is estimated at US$266.2 billion. This is a large sum of money, but it is roughly equal to that spent by Germany alone each year. US total expenditure, at US$2.1 trillion, dwarfs this. China has by some way the largest health expenditure of the BRIC countries, at US$137 billion in 2006. This is a similar total amount to that spent by Canada. Average annual growth in expenditure is estimated at 11% for the 2006-11 period, taking the total to US$412.8 billion by 2011. Projected growth is fastest in India, at 15.3%, and slowest in Brazil, at 3.7%.

Opportunities do exist

There are, of course, wide regional differences in expenditure levels within the BRIC countries, far more so than in developed countries where health systems have evolved to provide a more uniform level of coverage. All four countries have a relatively wealthy urban population with a far greater spending power than their respective national average. In the case of China and India, these urban populations have grown rapidly, and number hundreds of millions. The challenge for these countries is to extend this level of wealth to the rest of the population, in order that better levels of healthcare become affordable.

A long haul

This is evolution not revolution. Short-term opportunities exist in meeting the health demands of the burgeoning middle classes, and future prospects bright where steady growth in BRIC markets will erode commercial differences with the established markets in North America, Japan and Europe.

Current and accurate decision support information is vital

Effective planning is vital, and impartial, thoroughly researched information is essential to fully appreciate the current status as a basis for future development. That is why Espicom Business Intelligence, the leading provider of market intelligence has published, in February 2007, the 270-page management report The Market for Medical Devices in Brazil, Russia, India & China 2007. In addition to highly detailed chapters on each market, the report provides a thought-provoking and comparative examination of the BRIC economies, putting opportunities into their current and future context.