Overview
The majority of medical equipment suppliers in Bosnia and Herzegovina are EU-based manufacturers, primarily from Germany and Italy. However, in recent years, U.S. manufacturers such as GE Medical and Medtronic have made significant headway in supplying U.S. technology in hospitals throughout the country, specifically diagnostic-imaging equipment in the clinical centers in Sarajevo, Tuzla, Banja Luka, and Mostar. U.S.-manufactured medical equipment enjoys an excellent reputation in BiH for state-of-the-art technology, quality, and reliability. The medical equipment market is very price sensitive.
The entity and cantonal Institutes of Health Insurance administer healthcare systems which are funded through compulsory payroll contributions from both employers and employees. BiH’s health care system is predominantly publicly funded; however, there are an increasing number of private practices. The RS also has some public private partnerships (PPP) in the health care system, but the Federation lacks a law to allow PPPs in any industry. Individual cantons have their own PPP laws, which vary in quality.
An RS entity Law on Medicines and Medical Devices seeking to establish a parallel RS Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices briefly entered into force on June 28, 2022. The Constitutional Court annulled the law on December 2, 2022. Companies should take precautions before considering doing business outside of the state-level Medicines Agency, the country’s sole legal regulator of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
Opportunities
The best sales prospects for U.S. medical equipment include cardiovascular diagnostic equipment, non-invasive surgical devices, anesthesia and intensive care equipment, diagnostic imaging (CTs, MRIs), radiation therapy equipment, ultrasound equipment, urology equipment, laboratory and testing equipment, and tissue and blood bank related equipment. There are also good prospects for products such as ultra-violet/infra-red equipment used in medical, surgical, and dental procedures, as well as apparatuses based on the use of X-rays of alpha, beta, or gamma radiation treatments. Opportunities also exist for U.S. manufacturers of sophisticated diagnostic equipment such as electrocardiographs, endoscopes, scanners, imaging equipment, pacemakers, digitalized x-ray equipment, nuclear medicine instruments, and clinical laboratory equipment. Diagnostic imaging equipment, especially ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, and dialysis equipment are in great demand.
Resources
BiH Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices
Ministry of Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of the Republika Srpska