PORTUGAL - Medical Device Industry and Demographic Data

Shown below you will find some basic demographic and economic data, plus information specific to the medical device and healthcare industry.

Capital city: Lisbon

Total area: 92072 km²

Population: 10.7 million

Currency: euro

Language: Portuguese

Structure of population:
0-14 years: 16.3%
15-64 years: 66.1%
65 years and over: 17.6% (2009 est.)

Healthcare expenditure: $2 283 per capita (at int. $ rate, 2007 data)

Number of hospitals: public 111, private 93 (2006 data)

Healthcare financing: The Ministry of Health allocates global budgets based on the previous year's funding and, with a growing portion, on the DRG system. Health centers are responsible for delivering primary health care. These centers receive a small budget for rent, utilities etc., based on historical costs. All other costs are directly paid by the sub-regional coordination level.

Medical device industry: The Portuguese medical device market is relatively small and valued at €445.5 million. Portugal is a small-sized consumer and consumed €404 million in medical devices (2% of the total EU consumption). Public sector procurement is very centralized and highly price competitive. Consumables and supplies, including surgical requirements such as sutures and pacemakers, are purchased on a twice-yearly basis (April and October) by a central purchasing board acting on behalf of all public hospitals. The appointment of a local agent for the Portuguese market is essential. The majority of medical equipment sales are made by specialised importers and distributors. However, there has been a trend for more foreign companies to set up an establishment in Portugal to take direct control of product distribution.