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The 12th International
Healthcare, Hospital Supplies
and Medical Equipment Shows
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Unparalleled
Business
Opportunities
in the
Largest
Medical
Market
in the
Middle
East |
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Burgeoning
Population
Drives
Strong
Growth
And
Privatization
In
Medical
Sector
With
a
population
expected
to
grow
30%
in
the
next
10
years,
Saudi
Arabia
continues
to
expand
its
healthcare
services
to
meet
the
growing
needs
of
its
people.
Affluence
from
high
oil
prices
has
lead
to
rising
life
expectancy,
an
increasing
over-65
population,
an
expanding
expatriate
workforce,
its
healthcare
industry
to
meet
the
growing
needs
of
its
people.
These
factors
create
demand
for
healthcare.
In
response,
the
government
has
adopted
a
plan
to
privatize
the
sector,
and
increase
spending:
•
Total
2008
healthcare
expenditure
allocated
at
US$11.9;
over
US$20
billion
expected
expenditure
by
2016
• 79
hospitals
are
under
construction;
new
projects
include
over
250
primary
care
centers
and
8
new
hospitals
These
factors
offer
endless
opportunities
to
those
looking
to
expand
their
business
in
this
lucrative
market.
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Public
and
Private
Healthcare
Investments
Drive
Demand
for
Latest
Technologies |
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There
are
over
379
government
and
private
hospitals
in
Saudi
Arabia
with
53,192
beds.
Demand
for
hospital
beds
is
likely
to
grow
to
70,000,
and
the
number
of
hospitals
is
likely
to
rise
to
502.
To
offset
the
current
strain
on
hospitals,
the
Ministry
of
Health
is
planning
to
develop
primary
health
centers
into
mini-hospitals
with
advanced
facilities.
The
Kingdom
has
1,850
health
centers
now.
Additionally,
the
Ministry
will
set
up
new
diabetic
centers
across
the
Kingdom
at a
cost
of
SR42
million
(about
US$11.2
million).
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International
investors
will be
flocking
in
record
numbers
to this
year’s
Saudi
Medicare-
the
largest
general
healthcare
show in
the
country |
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All
the
top
medical
product
manufacturers
will
be
present
at
Saudi
Medicare
2009.
They’ll
be
interacting
with
prominent
healthcare
representatives
on
the
lookout
for
lucrative
deals.
The
exhibition
will
offer
invaluable
exposure
to
the
world’s
leading
medical
product
companies.
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Seize
Exciting
Investment
Opportunities
at the
Region’s
Leading
Medical
Show
Specialized
Services
and
Medicine
in
Strong
Demand
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Rising
affluence,
unhealthy
diet,
a
lack
of
exercise,
and
high
rates
of
obesity
in
the
Kingdom,
has
resulted
in a
prevalence
of
associated
health
problems,
including
diabetes
and
heart
diseases.
As
incomes
increase,
and
chronic
disease
persists,
an
increasing
amount
of
money
will
be
spent
on
healthcare
treatments,
such
as
leading-edge
therapies.
Yet
the
specialized
services
required
to
meet
these
demands
are
in
short
supply.
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Opportunities
Exist
Across
the
Healthcare
Spectrum
at Saudi
Medicare
2009 |
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INSURANCE
New
regulations
require
employers
to
provide
medical
insurance
for
expatriate
workers
(over
7
million
in
Saudi
Arabia
now),
and
this
will
ultimately
be
extended
to
cover
all
workers
in
the
country.
Costs
of
the
insurance
initiative
could
reach
over
US$
8
billion.
To
meet
the
demand,
the
Government
has
licensed
13
new
insurance
companies,
but
more
are
needed.
PHARMACEUTICALS
Latest
available
data
showed
that
the
Kingdom’s
expenditure
on
drugs
reached
SR4.8
billion,
one
of
the
highest
in
the
Middle
East.
Mandated
drug
coverage
under
new
insurance
laws
will
push
spending
even
higher.
Imports
will
continue,
as
well
as
an
increase
in
domestic
manufacturing.
E-HEALTH
To
cope
with
the
complexity
associated
with
a
growing
healthcare
system,
the
Ministry
of
Health
supports
the
establishment
of a
national
electronic
records
system
for
healthcare.
Consequently,
hospital
information
systems,
hardware,
and
associated
software
will
be
in
high
demand.
PLASTIC
SURGERY
Demand
for
plastic
surgery
is
on
the
rise.
Clinics
strive
to
meet
consumer
needs
as
medical
advancements
and
value
of
currency
has
made
plastic
surgery
cheaper
relative
to
western
countries.
A
diverse
consumer
segment
- a
young
population
(60%
are
under
17
years),
and
a
significant
expatriate
population
(more
than
7m),
also
drive
demand.
High
levels
of
discretionary
income
has
helped
the
market
to
expand
and
experts
estimate
a
double
digit
rate
increase-
the
cosmetic
clinic
sector
alone
has
grown
10
fold
in 5
years.
There
is
especially
strong
demand
for
weight
related
services,
such
as
liposuction,
due
to
the
high
levels
of
obesity
among
the
population.
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EDUCATION
Medical
education
is
also
set
for
a
funding
boost
under
the
government’s
plans
in
order
to
raise
the
number
of
trained
medical
staff,
particular
among
Saudi
nationals.
Saudi
Arabia
faces
a
shortage
of
doctors
and
nursing
staff,
demand
for
physicians
alone
is
likely
to
rise
from
40,000
to
54,000,
and
the
government
has
allocated
funds
to
develop
more
medical
schools,
training
centers
and
residency
programs
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