Procurement Practices of Rubber Medical Devices in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (July 2019)

90 pages. MREPC undertook the study on the procurement practices of rubber medical devices (RMD) to provide Malaysian exporters of RMD with information on the regulatory procedures, procurement processes, as well as distribution and marketing channels of the products in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. Key developing countries in the regions are included in the report, namely Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has been a major hub for the distribution of RMD in the Middle East and North Africa region, was also included. Among the eight countries, South Africa has the largest RMD market estimated at USD228 million in 2018, followed by Egypt and Iran with a market size of USD39 million and USD37 million, respectively. On average, 85-90% of RMD in all countries except Iran are imported. In most countries, the size of the public and private sectors in terms of healthcare spending is almost equivalent. Notably, healthcare in UAE and Saudi Arabia is largely contributed by the public sector while healthcare in Bangladesh and Pakistan is highly dependent on the private sector. The healthcare sector in most countries is expanding, driven by the increase in healthcare expenditure, growth in the country's economy and income level as well as improved accessibility to healthcare facilities. Bangladesh and Pakistan could present large markets for RMD in the future having a combined population of 360 million. The report contains detailed information on the procurement practices of RMD in selected countries of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. It also explains the tendering system and highlights the buying policies of key health institutions and the key criteria for selecting suppliers and products. The report also contains some recommendations on the supply strategies and marketing channels to facilitate Malaysian companies in accessing and increasing their presence in these markets.