Turkey and Russia lead the devices market
This translates into a huge opportunity for vendors in the chemical and pharmaceutical arena, given they can prove their ability to deliver the goods that the Azerbaijani citizens are in real need of. «In particular», Berenjforoush said, «there is a considerable market for pharmaceuticals, especially in delivering high-quality, low-cost products. Out of the 62 per cent Oop paid by Azerbaijani patients, more than 70 per cent is spent on pharmaceuticals, 60 per cent of which are imported. Turkey, Iran, India, Ukraine and Russia supply low-cost products, whereas medicines from the United States, France, Germany and other Eu regions are much more expensive, but have a better reputation». Lacking a domestic production Azerbaijan could also become the promised land for the biomedical devices industry and for such technologies as «ultrasound scanners, electrocardiographs, X-ray equipment, laboratory analyzers, electronic surgery devices, endoscopes, gynecologic instruments and appliances, catheters, drains» in a landscape presently dominated by Russian and Turkish providers, thanks to the lower cost of their products. Other higher end solutions are although imported from the United States as well as from Germany, France and Japan. Frost & Sullivan’s analysts have in fact pointed out that Japan is an aggressive player in the region, having such brands as Aloka and Shimadzu conquered the low cost segment of the market with a high quality offer. Among Central-European vendors a prominent role is played by Siemens, which is already very well positioned in the rush towards the Azerbaijani hospitals with its best of breed equipments.