This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 6/24/2019

Overview

Medical Equipment
(USD – millions)
2016
2017
2018
2019 estimated
Total Market Size *8,0008,4739,2049,045
Total Exports2,7204336*4,4974,453
Total Local Production4,3726,2596,6516,280
Total Imports6,3486,5507,0507,218
Exchange rate: 1USD1.10691.12971.18101.14
Total Market Size = (Total Local Production + Total Imports) – (Total Exports)
Data sources:  * Unofficial estimates based on input from Fenin and sector sources
 *Export figure for 2017 in Euros increased 51 percent due to changes in Eurostat methodology in four categories

With a population of over 46.7 million, Spain is an important market within the EU for medical products. Comprehensive medical attention is available to all Spaniards. Public healthcare institutions are the main purchasers of medical equipment and supplies and currently represent 75-80 percent of the market. These entities include public hospitals, health centers, research institutes, etc.  The private healthcare sector accounts for approximately 20 percent of the market, although this share is on the rise due to budget adjustments in recent years.  The market for medical equipment and devices is estimated at approximately USD9.2 billion. The regions of Madrid and Catalonia account for over 80 percent of medical equipment sales.
Small and medium sized companies make up 90 percent of the market and account for more than 40 percent of the sales.  Large companies account for only 8 percent of the market but they generate approximately 60 percent of the sales.  Most of the large U.S. names are well-established in Spain.
Government measures to reduce the country’s budget deficit over the last several years have had a substantial impact on the level of procurement. According to sector sources, the sector experienced a setback of 3 percent during the period of 2011-2017.  

After several years of adjustments, the proposed annual healthcare budget for 2019 is USD5 billion, an increase of 0.9 percent over the previous year´s budget.  Each of the 17 regional governments administers its respective healthcare budget authorized by the Central Government.  Per capita expenditures in 2018 varied from USD1, 376 in the region of Andalusia to USD 1,993 in the Basque Country.

Official statistics for the sector are not available.  The above figures are not all-inclusive but reflect market trends.  The market continues to slowly recover from a marked decline in demand as the result of a prolonged economic crisis several years ago.  Nonetheless, cost-efficiency has become a determining factor throughout the country. Single use items from Asia have grown in popularity because of greater cost control.
According to FENIN, the Spanish healthcare technology federation, the tendency in the main sectors in 2018 were as follows:

Sector Tendencies in the Market of Healthcare Technologies
Cardiology, neurosurgery, pain treatment6.0 percent
Single use items3.0 percent
Implants3.0 percent
Dental5.5 percent
Systems & Technology of Clinical Information23.9 percent


The sector continues to rely heavily on imports, USD 7 billion in 2018.  Germany accounts for approximately 50 percent of the imports, while the United States has approximately 25 – 30 percent of the market share.  Most of the well-known U.S. brands are well-established in the Spanish market.

Spanish manufacturers are compensating for the drop in domestic activity by stepping up their international activities. Medical device exports from Spain have increased over 30 percent between 2012-2017, with exports for 2018 estimated at USD 4.3 billion. The European Union continues to be the principal destination for Spanish exports in this sector, with 54 percent of exports going to Germany, Portugal, Belgium, France and Italy. (The difference reflected in the table above for exports is due to a change in the Customs statistical methodology).

Medical products and devices must have the CE mark and need to be imported by a company that has the corresponding authorization to handle medical products.  This permit is issued by the Ministry of Health. As a result of the development and expansion of the EU market and the requirement for the CE Mark, many U.S. companies have been centralizing their manufacturing and import operations into one single EU country from which they register and distribute their products to the rest of the EU. 

Official tenders are used for most public healthcare sector purchases. There is a pre-selection process among the competing companies prior to the open bid.  During pre-selection, supplying companies present the hospital with descriptions of their products and their prices.  After reviewing the proposals, the hospital chooses the companies considered the most suitable.   Tenders are not used in the private sector.  Normally, private hospitals select a small number of suppliers from whom they make direct purchases. Non-EU and U.S. companies need to have either a Spanish distributor or their own branch in Spain in order to participate in official tenders and to avail of other market opportunities, as also to provide the after-care service required by law. 

Refurbished medical equipment can be imported, but both public and private medical providers in Spain have traditionally shown interest only in new equipment. As is the case for new equipment, refurbished equipment must follow CE mark and registration with the Ministry of Health requirements.

Leading Sub-Sectors

Prior to the current crisis, diagnostics, orthopedics and disposable items accounted for 70 percent of the market. Now that the market is slowly recovering, best products would include innovative and efficient cardiology, respiratory/anesthesia, neurology, orthopedic, MRA, ETP, CT, and dermatology/wound treatment products. The area of personalized medicine will continue to prosper. Minimally invasive technologies, primarily in the areas of cardiology and robotics, are growing more popular as well, due to the lower cost of treatment. As a result of the aging population, the demand for home care and hospice products should increase slowly but steadily depending on ongoing economic stability. While there is a good demand for disposables, Asian products are gaining in popularity because of greater cost control.

Opportunities

Spanish professionals, both manufacturers and distributors attend the Medica trade fair that takes place every November in Düsseldorf, Germany.  Many of the Spanish manufacturers that exhibit at Medica also import products.

Web Resources
Spanish Ministry of Health
FENIN – Spanish Healthcare Technology Federation –
Guia Puntex
 
U.S. Commercial Service Spain:
Healthcare Sector Specialist: Helen Crowley
Tel: +34 91 308 1548
e-mail: Helen.Crowley@trade.gov

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