research latin america health – Global Health Intelligence – Healthcare Market Insights for Emerging Markets

Colombia: Debt to hospitals and clinics in the country reached USD7.3 trillion, the highest of the last 18 years

GHI Analysis — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 20:47:40 +0000

A report by the Colombian Association of Hospitals and Clinics (ACHC) revealed that the debt to hospitals and clinics for the provision of health services in the country reached USD7.3trillion, the largest amount of portfolio owed in the last 18 years.

The study notes that EPSs from the contributory scheme remain the largest debtors of hospitals with USD2.9bn, or 40% of total debt. Second is the EPS of the subsidized regime, with 32.5% of the debt, followed by the State (including territorial entities and the Fosyga) with USD742,706mn. The remaining money is owed by companies of prepaid medicine, insurers Soat, magisterio, IPS, companies and individuals.

The ACHC pointed out that in the face of this “critical” situation, the government must guarantee the payment of debts of entities in liquidation such as Saludcoop and Caprecom and those of the newly sold Cafesalud EPS, which represent 67% of non-performing loans, to avoid detriment to the country’s health sector.

Medical and Wellness Tourism: Currency Devaluations Sweeten the Deal

GHI Analysis — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 13:36:21 +0000

The development of medical tourism in Latin America in recent years has been very profitable for destination country economies, including Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and Cuba. Surgical and dental procedures are offered at a sharp discount compared to U.S. price points.

Over 1.4 million Americans went abroad for medical cases in 2016, a number that has grown alongside the rising cost of care following the Affordable Care Act.

Latin America is receiving the lion’s share with costfriendly and increasingly excellent medical care combined with developed tourist infrastructure.

The establishment of rigorous standards via U.S. based Joint Commission International allows a growing number of accredited Latin American hospitals to leverage a golden seal of approval.

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Neurovascular devices market projected to grow at ~4% CAGR to reach USD2.3 Billion by 2024

GHI Analysis — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 16:23:07 +0000

The neurovascular devices market is projected to reach USD 2.3 billion by 2024. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.1% between 2016 to 2024.

The market is mainly driven by increasing prevalence of neurological disorders and growing popularity of minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Other factors include favourable reimbursement plans, rising adoption of carotid stents and balloon catheters by neurosurgeons.

Globally, adoption of MIS has increased as these procedures are known for their accuracy and convenience along with reduced hospital stay. However, shortage of skilled neuro-medical experts and the rising cost of devices may pose as restraints for market growth.

Major players include Stryker, Johnson & Johnson, Terumo, Medtronic, and Penumbra with Stryker leading the market.

Hospitals account for 85% of neurovascular device use and this segment is estimated to have highest growth during the forecast period followed by ambulatory surgical units and clinics. United States accounted for more than 70% of the market share. In the forecast period, APAC region is expected to grow primarily due to increasing healthcare spending.

Latin America is expected to increase by 5.5% over 2016-2024, driven by the rising prevalence of brain-related disorders and an increase in the number of geriatric patients. Neurovascular devices are used in in stenosis, brain aneurysm, and ischemic strokes. More than 4% of American population suffers from aneurysms. Ischemic stroke is estimated to observe the highest growth between 2016-2024 while brain aneurysm, having more than 70% market will depict a substantial growth rate over the forecast period.

Latin America Outlook

GHI Analysis — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 09:00:04 +0000

Latin America’s political leaders have faced the rigorous challenge of governing a growing and increasingly empowered middle class electorate amid the region’s 2015-16 economic downturn. Squeezed between growing fiscal deficits and the demands of socioeconomic change, not all are emerging unscathed. The healthcare market, though more sheltered from economic cycles than other sectors, is a affected by the tides of political change and public spending. As public coffers skimmed the bottom in 2016, the region saw an unprecedented increase in out-of-pocket expenditures from the middle class. There is also the question of the new political climate in the U.S. and what it may mean for geopolitics south of the boarder.

Puerto Rico – Hospital Demographics 2016

GHI Analysis — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 14:00:16 +0000

Puerto Rico has a highly concentrated hospital market. While the number of hospitals is limited (67), the average hospital has 129 beds, making it the territory with the largest average hospital size in the region.

Number of hospitals: 67
Number of hospital beds per hospital (average): 129
Operating rooms per hospital (average): 3.3

Penetration of:

Ventilators: 124%
Infusion pumps: 1254%
MRI: 54%
PET: 37%
PACS: 66%
Ultrasound: 64%

Procedure types:

Ambulatory: 80%
Hospitalization: 20%

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