Espicom's in-depth medical device market reports are ideal for executives wanting to understand the key drivers in medical markets and have access to a wealth of statistical data. Each report opens with an outlook section that provides analysis of the market, 5-year market forecasts, national data projections, market outlook and key developments such as regulation, health facilities and government policy. The report also provides extensive background information, population trends, health status, health expenditure, organisation & administration, hospital services, medical personnel, healthcare development, market access information, trade data and essential industry contacts. Included with the report are 3 free quarterly updated outlook reports, enabling you to keep up to date with market developments for a year. Israel's healthcare sector remains amid a period of uncertainty. The continual political instability of recent years has been a marked factor in this malaise; healthcare policy has changed frequently and often faced widespread opposition. Progress within the sector is unlikely in the short term while government efforts are concentrated around the current dark state of Israeli-Palestine affairs.

Fluctuations in healthcare budgets, where heavy cutbacks were reversed by the government in the face of widespread opposition by many industry professionals in 2003, have caused additional concern over the future of national healthcare after 2002 saw the first ever decrease of healthcare spending in local currency terms since 1998. Allocations for the health basket are seemingly in a constant state of uncertainty. According to the Ministry of Finance, under the proposed budget for 2006, a budget of NIS 220 million was allocated to fund new technologies and add medications to the health basket

Israel is the most developed nation in the Middle East in terms of both its healthcare system and medical device market. The market is by far the most advanced and lucrative in the region by a considerable margin, and in terms of per capita expenditure it ranks just outside the 20 highest in the world. With a solid healthcare infrastructure and facilities on a par with many western European countries already in place, Israel also offers impressive R&D facilities. The number of imported goods continues to rise, and is increasingly dominated by more expensive ‘high-end' equipment such as electromedical and X-ray apparatus.