Medical Equipment market in Czech

The Czech Republic has a very active healthcare sector, with domestic manufacturers becoming increasingly competitive. However, most medical devices used in the country are still imported, with Germany dominating the market, followed by the United States. Other notable importers in specific categories include Japan, China, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. German and American products, particularly high-tech equipment, are well-regarded for their quality.

The Czech healthcare system is mainly financed by the public sector through mandatory insurance contributions, with private expenditures only accounting for around 2.8 percent. In 2021, Czech insurance companies spent $17.24 billion, with most of the costs being attributed to COVID-related expenditures. While the country spends around 7.6 percent of its GDP on healthcare annually, the use of health services is among the highest in the OECD. This may be due to patients perceiving medical services as being “free of charge,” even though everyone must pay for insurance according to the Czech Constitution, which entitles everyone to the best available care.

There are 156 acute care hospitals, 37 aftercare hospitals, and 35 long-term care facilities in the Czech Republic, ten of which are faculty hospitals directly managed by the Ministry of Health. Czech hospitals and clinics are eager to adopt new technologies and quality products to keep their services current, offering excellent opportunities for medical device companies. In particular, the country has shown interest in eHealth and telemedicine, with the Czech government looking into the possibility of obtaining EU funds to help introduce eHealth throughout the country. Already, the Vysocina and Karlovy Vary regions have introduced some small-scale eHealth projects, while ePrescription and eSicknote have been adopted countrywide.

The Czech Republic is also a popular destination for medical tourism, known for reasonably priced quality treatments. The highest demand procedures include aesthetic medicine procedures, IVD treatments, obesity treatment, and gynecological procedures.

In terms of market opportunities, cutting-edge, high-quality, and technically sophisticated medical equipment, particularly those that increase efficiency and reduce occupancy rates in hospitals, have the best potential in the Czech market. These include minimally invasive surgery technologies, patient monitoring systems, telemedicine and eHealth, and home-care equipment.

Czech institutions are interested in partnering with companies, hospitals, and universities to create medical research partnerships, with the country planning to use European Union Recovery and Resilience Funds to finance some healthcare projects, with particular attention to oncology and eHealth.