Ministry of Health Initiative on Medical Equipment Management and Lifecycle
Highlighting that 92% of medical equipment is imported, the Ministry of Health aims to ensure traceability and transparency throughout its lifecycle.
Stating that approximately 92% of nearly 300,000 medical equipment items consist of imported products, the Ministry of Health has prepared new policy proposals that foresee the management of devices throughout their entire lifecycle and the reduction of unnecessary intermediaries in the supply chain.
High Dependence on Imports
According to August 2023 data, approximately 92% of the nearly 294,430 medical equipment items on the market consist of imported products.
Foreign dependency is experienced almost entirely, especially in equipment requiring high technology.
Lifecycle and Data Transparency
The scattered nature of data in current systems makes it difficult to track product traceability and safety alerts.
The Ministry proposes establishing a standard database where all processes from registration and importation to use and maintenance can be monitored.
Challenges in Price Management
Although there is a large amount of price data, making a clear comparison is difficult due to additional services such as configuration and maintenance.
A unified database showing the cost and profit margins of distribution tiers nationwide does not yet exist.
Three Core Policy Proposals
The Ministry of Health presents three core policies: data-driven lifecycle management, transparent pricing, and the reduction of intermediaries.
It aims to encourage manufacturers to engage in direct distribution and to focus the state on post-audit operations.