A country where its Health Ministry plays a key role in determining the health policy of the country,preparing drug reimbursement lists, setting drug prices, financing and implementing national health programs,financing clinical and research hospitals and specialist institutes, financing specialized services,financing scientific research and educating medical staff.
Poland which is located in Central Europe is divided into 16 administrative subdivisions, covering an area of 312,696 square kilometers, and has a largely temperate seasonal climate. Poland’s capital and largest metropolis is Warsaw.
It is the sixth largest in the European Union with a population of 38 million people. The country happens to be one of the biggest healthcare markets in Central/Eastern Europe. That stated, the healthcare sector in Poland has been in a somewhat challenging financial condition as of late, and the short-term outlook in the public healthcare sector (the largest sector of healthcare in Poland) remains tentative. Since 1999, the Polish healthcare sector has gone through several unsuccessful attempts at reform.
The Polish healthcare system, although established within the framework created by the EU, is still strongly influenced by the internal politics of the state. Since 2003, healthcare services have been financed, supervised and controlled by the Ministry of Health, the National Health Fund, and local governments. The Ministry of Health plays a key role in determining the health policy of the countr y, preparing drug reimbursement lists, setting drug prices, financing and implementing national health programs, financing clinical and research hospitals and specialist institutes, financing specialized services, financing scientific research, and educating medical staff. The role of funding bodies of most of public healthcare facilities is local governments. The National Health
The Polish healthcare system, although established within the framework created by the EU, is still strongly influenced by the internal politics of the state. Since 2003, healthcare services have been financed, supervised and controlled by the Ministry of Health, the National Health Fund, and local governments.
Fund (NFZ) contracts out services from healthcare providers for the population while local governments play an administrative role. The NFZ is responsible for financing the operating costs of the healthcare system in Poland, i.e. the daily costs of the primary care, o u t p a t i e n t a n d i n p a t i e n t c a re , a s w e l l a s reimbursement for medicines and rehabilitation products. The NFZ operates on the actual, current contributions of employers and employees.
Current Market Trends
The latest restructuring of public healthcare in Poland resulted in establishment of short-term and outpatient facilities. This change required implementation of advanced diagnostic techniques and new surgical procedures that, in turn, created a demand for new equipment. Also, the development of private healthcare sector in Poland created a need for equipment. The private market is most active in outpatient care, rehabilitation, and spa/wellness care. It is also the sector with the highest growth rate and purchasing power. However, investment-type purchases, such as advanced medical equipment, have been limited.
Products that reduce hospitalization time will be received warmly, considering the (public) hospital sector’s capacity shortage and financial strains. Leasing products is popular and common practice; companies able to offer such financing plans or other alternative schemes to reduce the financial load that comes with traditional product procurement would certainly find keen customers.
The Polish medical equipment market is growing rapidly and in many directions. This is due both to a growing internal market and the companies themselves, which have become increasingly competitive and started to expand to overseas markets. The major export products manufactured by the Polish medical equipment industry include bio-electronic apparatus, operating theatre equipment, rehab equipment, surgical instruments and devices using medical imaging technologies. One of the most thriving branches of the industry comprises producers of bio-electronic equipment, which is used for vital functions monitoring (patient monitors, de brillators with the function of monitoring and data transmission, ECG equipment, Holster recorders, spirometers, etc.). Monitoring devices are also offered as network solutions which integrate separate devices into a central monitoring system.
Imports remain a fundamental component of the local medical equipment market, and about 85 percent of all medical equipment used in Poland is imported. So, medical equipment represents a good prospect for foreign suppliers in general, but US medical equipment manufacturers face strong competition, and particularly from European companies. EU suppliers increased market share due to their competitive prices as well as availability of EU assistance packages for Poland. Poland imports medical equipment primarily from Western Europe, the United States and Asia (Japan and China).
Biotech and Pharma Sector in UAE
The UAE remains one of the high potential markets for Poland with trade between both countries crossing $750 million in 2018.
The Polish Investment and Trade Agency, under its Sector-Promotion Program, participated in promoting biotech and pharmaceutical services at the Congress with four major companies including Global Pharma, Gofarm, Exim Pharma, and Z.F. Unia exhibiting at the Middle East Pharma Cold Chain Congress recently in Dubai.
“Poland is well known as the supplier of raw materials for the pharma and nutrition manufacturers in the UAE,” said MoneerFaour, head of Polish Foreign Trade Office in Dubai. “We are also pleased to see growing interest from Polish manufacturers to expand into the UAE, which is also known as the strategic hub for cooperation with the GCC.”
“This is especially interesting considering EXPO 2020 in Dubai, where Poland is participating. Poland’s participation is organized by Polish Investment and Trade Agency.”
The congress is another event in the medical and healthcare sector in the UAE in recent weeks, which saw the participation of Polish companies.
