Medical equipment industry grows by 35pc in the region

DUBAI — The regional medical equipment industry is growing by leaps and bounds, with annual trade in medical equipment increasing by Dh3.5 billion in the region, according to trade traffic statistics compiled by Statistics Departments of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation. The figure represents a 35 per cent growth over the same period last year

By A Staff Reporter

Published: Mon 20 Feb 2006, 9:34 AM

Last updated: Sat 4 Apr 2015, 2:38 PM

Medical, dental and surgical equipment comprise 11 per cent of the total trade through Dubai, while therapeutic medicaments contribute 33 per cent. Solutions comprise 3 per cent of total trade, while antibiotics also contribute 3 per cent. Diagnostic and laboratory reagents add another 3 per cent, and the remaining 46 per cent consists of miscellaneous instrumentation and technology, as well as therapeutic and remedial medications that fall outside the categories numerated above.

Adel Al Ashram Senior Manager Department of Statistics (PCFC) said: "Dubai is seeing a rapid increase in the import and re-export of medical equipment, instrumentation, and therapeutic solutions and tablets. This is due in part to Dubai's increasing stature as regional re-export epicentre, and also due to the fact that the health sector in the Middle East is burgeoning, with a vast array of new projects coming up, and many Arab countries working towards upgrading their health sector and medical infrastructure. A new trend is the inculcation of holistic treatment centres that provide a vast range of therapies and treatment, and are being promoted as a healthy way of life."

"We can fully expect to see trade figures for medical equipment being routed to and through Dubai to continue their upward trend in coming years as the region realises the importance of nurturing world class health sectors that can compete internationally and attract experts and patients from all over the globe," he added.

The USA ranked first on the list of importers to Dubai, with overall medical imports reaching Dh333 million. Germany was second with imports of 308 million, while the UK, China and Switzerland totalled Dh240 million, 141 million and 133 million respectively. Of the total trade in medical equipment, imports comprised 74.8pc, while export and re-export amounted to 25.1pc.