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. Morocco has enjoyed seven years of consecutive economic growth since 2000 and the economy averaged an annual growth rate of 4.5% between 2002 and 2006.

The government has embarked on a major overhaul of the health sector, following two decades of under-funding and mismanagement. In addition to the modernisation and upgrading of existing facilities, the Ministry of Health's development programme includes the provision of three new teaching hospitals in Fez, Marrakech and Oujda.

Implementation of a long-awaited universal health insurance scheme finally began in 2005, and the system is due to become fully operational in 2006. The first stage of the project aims to increase coverage of the active population from its present level of 16.5% to 34.0%, equivalent to 10.2 million people. The second stage of the scheme will be to extend health insurance coverage to the self employed, which will increase coverage to around 50% of the population.

After a three-year period of stagnation, the medical market registered significant growth in 2003 and 2004 and is forecast to rise in 2007. However, per capita medical device spending remains low at around US$4 and there is considerable potential for further expansion.

The local medical device manufacturing industry remains at an embryonic stage, leaving most sectors of the market reliant on foreign imports, which totalled US$99.5 million in 2005.