Healthcare Technologies Resource Guide - Export.gov

Germany
Summary
Medical technology is set to remain a German domain, at least until 2020.
The trend report published by the Association for Electrical, Electronic and
Information Technologies (VDE, Frankfurt am Main) for 2011, for which some
1,300 member companies and universities were surveyed, shows that Germany
is the most innovative country in this field by a long way. This international
comparison reveals the great importance of medical technology in Germany,
especially against the backdrop of a dynamic and growing global health market
and increasing competition between manufacturers.
Latest OECD Health figures report that the healthcare industry generated 11.6%
of GDP (2010) in Germany. Approx. 5.4 million, or 12% of all employees, work in
the healthcare sector, ten times more than in the chemical industry, making the
healthcare industry the largest employer in Germany. Almost one in seven jobs
in German is in the healthcare industry and the Federal Ministry of Economics
anticipates that by 2030 an additional 2 million people will be employed in the
industry. Health expenditures in Germany increased in 2010 by 2.6% to a total of
$365 billion. Medical technology companies grew sales by 5.3%. Each German
incurs healthcare expenditures of $4,338 annually.
According to the German Medical Technology Association (BVMed), the medical
devices segment employed 175,000 and generated expenditures of $33.4 billion
in 2011.
German Medical Equipment Market, 2011–2013 (in USD millions)
Statistics
Capital: Berlin
Population: 81.77 million (2011)
GDP: USD 3.577 trillion (2011)
Currency: Euro (€)
Language: German
U.S. Commercial Service Healthcare Technologies Resource Guide | 2012–2013
2011 2012 (estimated) 2013 (estimated)
Total Market Size 30,000,000 32,000,000 33,400,000
Total Local Production 30,000,000 32,000,000 33,400,000
Total Exports 19000 20000 21000
Total Imports 18800 20000 21100
Imports from the U.S. 5307 5625 5906
Major barriers to local market expansion are ongoing health reform efforts and
cost-containment measures. Demand will mainly be driven by demographics
and a substantial increase in the number of patients; by the need for economies
of scale and efficient procedures; and by a major investment backlog estimated
at $61.5 billion in hospitals. In 2011, German states provided $3.56 billion in
investment funding, $267.37 million less than in 2011 and 20% less than the
previous ten-year average. This backlog especially affected the segments
Contact
Anette Salama
Senior Commercial Specialist
anette.salama@trade.gov
+49-211-737767-60
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