The country’s score is propped up by its sizeable and wealthy population as well as a steady forecast annual growth of its drug expenditure. Over the forecast period, the Saudi pharmaceutical market is expected to post a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.66% in both US dollar and local currency terms. At consumer prices, spending in this sector is expected to increase from SAR9.94bn (US$2.65bn) in 2008 to SAR13.09bn (US$3.49bn) by 2013. Nevertheless, the fact that the Saudi drug market accounts for around 65% of pharmaceutical sales in the wider Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) region will continue to draw foreign companies. Additionally, the growth in new medical facilities across Saudi Arabia is also likely to please medical device manufacturers as these new facilities will boost demand for medical supplies, devices and equipment. However, in an effort to provide all demands, Saudi Medicare as every year is a show for International Healthcare, Hospital Supplies and Medical Equipment. In terms of the Kingdom’s economic performance, 2009 and 2010 are still being fairly subdued growth years, although the long-term outlook for Saudi Arabia is more positive than it is for some of its neighbors, thanks to its strong domestic demand dynamics. The pharmaceutical market and medical device market in Saudi Arabia are forecasted to grow at a CAGR of around 12% and 7% respectively to 2012.

• Explore the latest business development opportunities in the healthcare industry in Saudi Arabia
• Develop strategies to exploit the rapid growth in the healthcare industry in the region
• Benefit from exclusive insights regarding the Saudi Healthcare industry as a whole health insurance in the GCC
• Build networks, Capitalize on relationships and gain direct contact with decision makers and government procurement organizations.

• The Saudi Arabian government has announced that its population is projected to increase to 27.6mn people by 2013, and has proposed to restructure the management of the existing 218 government hospitals into private enterprises.
• Driven by the expansion of private healthcare and altering patient demographics, the Saudi Arabian pharmaceutical sector is becoming increasingly attractive for multinational investors to enter.
• Healthcare reforms in Saudi Arabia will increase access to healthcare services and medical appliances and investors looking to enter this market. • Medical devices are essential for effective and efficient prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of illness and disease. Therefore, Saudi Medicare priority is to assess the availability of the latest medical devices and aims to provide a global reference on health technologies. Additionally, it is a full line exhibitor of consumable and medical supplies
• A wide array of medical products will be on display at the largest international medical equipment and healthcare exhibition in the Kingdom. The organizers expect this year a record number of visitors from across the region. Key decision makers from healthcare industry will attend the show on the lookout for lucrative investment deals. Joining them will be domestic and regional agents, making Saudi Medicare 2010 a valuable medical industry gathering.

MEDICAL DEVICES AND SUPPLIES:
Rapidly growing market and more effective regulations will make it more attractive to medical devices manufacturers to capture a market share of the Saudi medical supplies and devices imports. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will in all possibility stay on track with its aspiration to provide a standard of healthcare that rivals the best in the world. Saudi Arabia has always been a passionate consumer of the latest technology and its hospitals are no exception. As private health provision in health care rises, a strong demand for high-end medical equipment will accompany.

E-HEALTH:
The growth in the numbers of players in the health care sector as well as the increasing sophistication of care available is likely to generate complexity. To cope with this development, the MOH wishes to encourage the establishment of a national electronic records system for healthcare. Accordingly, health systems integrators and potentially telemedicine specialists are likely to be in high demand.