Evaluate the status, opportunities and threats for medical device companies in Brazil, Russia, India and China now and in the future. This report includes market forecasts to 2011 plus free quarterly-updated market outlook reports on each country, keeping you up to date with developments for a full year. Many claim the BRIC countries present the most exciting opportunity for medical device and equipment companies. Maybe, but separating the fact from the fiction is essential in making sound business judgements.

This insightful report provides:
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A comprehensive comparative overview of key drivers in the four markets
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A detailed analysis of the health structure, funding, service and outlook for each market
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5-Year forecasts to 2011 and market valuations for each markets

Quarterly updated reports of key developments in the market

These leading emerging and rapidly-growing economies represented a total market of 2.7 billion people and a combined GDP of US$5.2 trillion in 2006. But where do commercial opportunities exist for medical manufacturers now?

The combined GDP of the four BRIC countries in 2006 was estimated to be US$5,2 trillion. China accounts for US$2,532 billion or 48.1% of this. Combined BRIC GDP in 2006 stood at 19.5% of the combined GDP of the G6 countries; this compares with 13.4% in 2002. BRIC GDP accounted for 11% of world GDP in 2006, compared with 8.5% in 2002.

Putting things in perspective
The BRIC countries' total projected health expenditure in 2006 is estimated at US$266.2 billion. This is a large sum of money, but it is roughly equal to that spent by Germany alone each year. US total expenditure, at US$2.1 trillion, dwarfs this. China has by some way the largest health expenditure of the BRIC countries, at US$137 billion in 2006. This is a similar total amount to that spent by Canada. Average annual growth in expenditure is estimated at 11% for the 2006-11 period, taking the total to US$412.8 billion by 2011. Projected growth is fastest in India, at 15.3%, and slowest in Brazil, at 3.7%.

Opportunities do exist
There are, of course, wide regional differences in expenditure levels within the BRIC countries, far more so than in developed countries where health systems have evolved to provide a more uniform level of coverage. All four countries have a relatively wealthy urban population with a far greater spending power than their respective national average. In the case of China and India, these urban populations have grown rapidly, and number hundreds of millions. The challenge for these countries is to extend this level of wealth to the rest of the population, in order that better levels of healthcare become affordable.

A long haul
This is evolution not revolution. Short-term opportunities exist in meeting the health demands of the burgeoning middle classes, and future prospects bright where steady growth in BRIC markets will erode commercial differences with the established markets in North America, Japan and Europe.

Current and accurate decision support information is vital
Effective planning is vital, and impartial, thoroughly researched information is essential to fully appreciate the current status as a basis for future development. That is why Espicom Business Intelligence, the leading provider of market intelligence has published, in February 2007, the 270-page management report The Market for Medical Devices in Brazil, Russia, India & China 2007. In addition to highly detailed chapters on each market, the report provides a thought-provoking and comparative examination of the BRIC economies, putting opportunities into their current and future context. BRAZIL

In 2006, the Brazilian medical market was valued at US$2,585 million, equivalent to around US$14 per capita. Expenditure per capita is far higher in the developed urban areas, however. The country has a well-established medical industry, comprising local and multinational companies, which supplies around 70% of the market.

The domestic industry is geared towards the Brazilian market and approximately 90% of production goes towards fulfilling local demand. Exports, therefore, are small in comparison with total production and the country consistently runs a negative balance of trade in medical equipment and supplies. However, demand for higher-tech medical equipment is growing, and companies wishing to exploit this market - forecast to exceed US$3 billion by 2011 - must either appoint a local agent or establish a Brazilian subsidiary. RUSSIA

The medical device and supplies market is expected to expand steadily in Russia over the next few years, due to good GDP growth and ongoing healthcare reforms. The government has started to focus more on healthcare and medical imports are stabilising. It is expected that the device market will continue to expand at an average rate of 9.4% per annum, to reach US$2,745 million by 2011, equivalent to US$20 per capita.

A positive sign for foreign companies is the recent growth in imports. Values have fluctuated since 1998, making it difficult to forecast growth, but plans for future reform suggest that imports will continue to grow. Most products are high-tech apparatus that Russian manufacturers are unable to produce due to financial restrictions. INDIA

The Indian market for medical equipment and supplies was valued at around US$1,505 million in 2006. Despite strong growth rates, the market remains disproportionately small, ranking among the top 20 in the world but with per capita spending of just US$1. High quality products are sought after, particularly in the private sector, and the high-tech end of the medical device market is dominated by multinationals.

Private sector investment in healthcare has been increasing since the mid 1980s and it is expected that future increased demand for medical equipment and supplies will come from private sector hospitals and medical centres. India has a growing middle-class of around 300 million people with disposable incomes and increasing healthcare expectations. Around one third of these can afford to pay for good quality private healthcare and this number is growing. CHINA

The value of the Chinese market for medical equipment and supplies was estimated at US$3.3 billion in 2006. This makes it one of the larger world markets, comparable in value with those of Spain or Brazil. Per capita spending, however, is tiny; the market amounted to just over US$2.5 per capita in 2006, similar to that in the Philippines and Vietnam. Spending will be far higher than this in the richer urban areas in the east of the country, but will struggle to reach even this low level in rural areas.

China is a large and fast growing market, but it is far from being a rich one. Of the population of 1.28 billion, around 870 million live in poor rural areas with little healthcare infrastructure, and have no money to pay for treatments in expensive County level hospitals. The vast majority of the Chinese population, therefore, has severely limited access to healthcare, especially that provided by expensive imported products. There is, however a fast growing middle class, based largely in urban areas, where demand for the best healthcare is matched by the ability to pay for it.
DETAILED REPORT CONTENTS

COMPARATIVE OVERVIEW
This extensive section compares and contrasts the economic, health and medical operating environment in the 4 markets.

COUNTRY ANALYSIS

Key National Indicators
Economic, population, and health data forecast to 2011.

Healthcare system
Organisation & administration
Health expenditure
Expenditure by source of funding and type
Hospital services
Hospital data such as beds by type, region, specialty, patient admissions and surgical procedures
Outpatient care
Medical personnel
Data on healthcare professionals covering such areas as doctors by specialty, nursing staff and dentists

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The medical market
Current market size
Unique 5-Year market projections to 2011
Market outlook & structure
Comment & rating

Accessing the medical market
Regulatory environment
Distribution guide and trade fair information
Domestic production

Contact details
For healthcare organisations and trade associations

QUARTERLY-UPDATED REPORTS INCLUDED!
Buyers of this report will receive, for each market, 4 quarterly reports covering:
Current market size
Unique 5-Year market projections to 2011
Market outlook & structure
Comment & rating
Imports and export data
Market developments, covering recent and impending developments with respect to key issues such as regulation, health facilities, and funding.