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. The Netherlands has a well structured domestic regulatory process which operates alongside the EU regulatory environment. Domestic production in the Netherlands ranges from small independent manufacturers to multinational corporations such as Phillips Medical. Such widespread production may indicate the flexibility of the manufacturing process, but the Netherlands is a well known ‘trading post', not just for the medical device industry. Therefore, such rises in imports may not reflect the rise in domestic demand. Details concerning domestic production are difficult to come by, therefore caution needs to be used in estimating production levels.

Where the Dutch pharmaceutical market is under increased pressure from the government to contain prices, there is no such mention of government intervention in the market for medical equipment and supplies. An important purchaser of medical equipment is the Nederlands Inkoopcentrum, which not only purchases for university and many other hospitals, but also acts as a registry for other agents and distributors who operate on a smaller basis.

Since 1992, the Netherlands has maintained a surplus balance of trade regarding the medical device market, especially during the mid- to late-nineties. More recently this trade surplus has reduced as the value of imports has rapidly increased since 1998.

In 2007, the Dutch medical equipment and supplies market was valued at US$2.2 billion, equal to US$132 per capita. Dutch imports do not necessarily reflect the actual worth of the market. This is due to the Netherlands being used as a ‘trading post' for the import and export of medical equipment and supplies. The Netherlands spends approximately 4.0% of total health expenditure on medical equipment and supplies, 0.3% of total GDP. The Dutch market accounts for approximately 1.1% of the global market.