Doing Business In (Insert Country Name Here) - BNA

Medical Equipment (MED) Return to top
Overview Return to top
2006 2007 2008* (estimated)
Total Market Size 5,809 6,041 6,282
Total Local Production 4,812 5,004 5,204
Total Exports 2,127 2,212 2,300
Total Imports 3,124 3,249 3,378
Imports from the U.S. 937 974 1,013
Exchange rate: USD1.00 Euro 0.8 Euro 0.7 Euro 0.7
(Figures in USD millions. * indicates unofficial estimates)
Total market demand in France for medical equipment was estimated at USD 6,041
million in 2007, with imports accounting for USD 3,249 million. Imports from the United
States were forecast at USD 974 million, or 30 percent of total imports. This percentage
is expected to remain approximately the same over the next three years, with overall
demand growing at 4 percent annually.
The best sales prospects for medical equipment include newly developed areas such as
non-invasive surgery, orthopedics, and disposable medical equipment. Healthcare
professionals are highly optimistic about new technologies such as telemedicine, which
is expected to have a major impact on medical care institutions. The recent growth of
American medical procedures and techniques in France such as (outpatient) same-day
surgery should benefit American medical product manufacturers.
Best Products/Services Return to top
Diagnosis:
The diagnostic sub-sector represents 35 percent of the total medical equipment market.
State-of-the-art diagnostic medical imaging systems are in great demand. Applications
for this technology already exist for pediatrics, cardio-vascular care, digestion, urology,
and spinal/nerve treatment. As it is well accepted and effective, the demand for this type
of technology will continue to grow. Health care professionals are very optimistic about
a feature of medical imagery equipment known as "image networking." This will
dramatically improve diagnostics by providing an image data bank that would enable a
specialist to compare the image of a current case to hundreds of previous cases.
Rehabilitation:
This sub-sector represents 26 percent of the total medical equipment market. It includes
all types of disposable medical products. The increasing elderly population reinforces
the demand for all kinds of disposable equipment and supplies such as incontinence
products and care kits used by nurses and families for home-care.
2/15/2008 Country Commercial Guide for France 53
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT, U.S. & FOREIGN COMMERCIAL SERVICE AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
© 2007. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES.