• Submitted by: manso
• Editorial Articles
• 11 / 30 / 2010

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2010-11-29 02:10:35 - Recently published research from Espicom Business Intelligence, "The Medical Device Market: Cuba", is now available at Fast Market Research

Cuba"s imported medical equipment market had grown rapidly in recent years, however relative stability over three years was followed by imports plummeting by 43.3% in 2008. This has negatively affected market estimates for 2010 and projections for the next five years. Cuba does not release official import and export data so this information is gathered by checking the imports/exports in other countries relating to Cuba.

Fellow communist nation China is loaning Cuba US$350 million to repair and renovate its hospitals as it looks to boost economic ties in South America, and China also supplies a good amount of Cuba"s medical imports.

In 2010, there are issues with Cuba"s economy, the full extent of the problem is unknown. What is certain is that the government have focused on reducing expenditure. National banks have been frozen by the government at the start of 2009, imports are continuing to be curbed and ration books, a key element of the communist government, are being abolished.

US companies cannot directly supply the market because of the trade embargo and it was extended for a further year in 2009. However, there is positive movement from the US, EU and Cuba. The EU lifted diplomatic sanctions in 2008, in April 2009 President Obama made policy changes related to US based relatives travel and money transfer. In July 2010, Cuba started the release of political prisoners who were interned in 2003 and who led to Europe imposing sanctions against Cuba.

Cuba has grown closer to Venezuela. Venezuela supplies Cuba with energy. Ten ships transport oil and gas to ALBA countries and elsewhere in a joint Cuban-Venezuelan oil venture. Cuba pays for the energy partly by collaborating on joint projects, providing healthcare staff, for example, Operation Miracle and Barrio Adentro.

Three hurricanes which hit in 2008 cost US$10 billion in damages. The storms severely impacted on 2,000 health centres and Cuba"s power and road networks. By October 2009, 49% of the houses destroyed had been rebuilt.

Cuba is one of the world"s last unreformed communist countries but in 2010"s communist youth convention, Castro said that the revolution"s main battleground was no longer politics but economic. The healthcare sector is highly centralised and controlled by the government. The new government has made small changes so far, decentralising agriculture, giving land to private farmers and privatising barbershops. Raul Castro is more open to liberalising the economy whilst still retaining communist values, looking to China"s example. Abolishing the wages cap and allowing bonuses from 2008 is an attempt to revitalise the economy.

Unlike many communist countries, Cuba has always made a priority of healthcare. Medical research has a good reputation, and the country trains more doctors per head of population than anywhere else in the world. Healthcare provision is often very basic. The country lacks the funds to expand and upgrade equipment, which generally needs to be imported. Patients may therefore have good access to doctors and facilities, but advanced treatments are far harder to come by.

Please note: Report sections are periodically updated and some sections may have been updated more recently than the publication date given for the full report. More Information...
MARKET OUTLOOK

Key national data projections
Current market size
Unique 5-year market projections
Market outlook
Market structureIncluding statistical data on imports and exports

Market accessIncluding distribution and medical device regulation

Healthcare analysisIncluding demographics, healthcare system, health expenditure, healthcare infrastructure and personnel HEALTHCARE DATA. A comprehensive tabula review of the market, including economic indicators, demographics, health expenditure, hospital and primary care data, and healthcare personnel.

DISTRIBUTORS
Details of the medical equipment distributors held in Espicom's database at the time of publication.

For more information or to purchase this report, go to:
- www.fastmr.com/prod/94641_the_medical_device_market_cuba.aspx

About Espicom Business Intelligence

Espicom Business Intelligence is a highly-regarded and established provider of business intelligence services. Founded in 1982 as MDIS Publications Ltd, the company changed its name to Espicom in 1992. Initially a publisher in a wide range of industries such as power generation and telecommunications, they now focus on the global pharmaceutical and medical device sectors. View more research from Espicom Business Intelligence at www.fastmr.com/catalog/publishers.aspx?pubid=1025

About Fast Market Research

Fast Market Research is an online aggregator and distributor of market research and business information. We represent the world's top research publishers and analysts and provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available.

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Author:
Bill Thompson
e-mail
Web: www.fastmr.com
Phone: 18008448156

Source: www.pr-inside.com/the-medical-device-market-cuba-new-r2275564.htm