Turkey’s efforts to control rising rates of COVID-19 are compromising the ability of hospitals to pay their debts to medtech and pharmaceutical companies. The government has devised a payments plan, but there is catch.

Growth prospects for Turkey’s medical technology market are significant, but local companies have complained about public policies that are harmful to business and about the ongoing crisis in the hospital system. Now, international medtechs are starting to react, with some downscaling local operations and portfolios. Association of Research Based Medical Technologies Manufacturers president Umut Gokalp laid out the problems being faced by industry, and what action he thinks the government should take.

The pandemic has exacerbated the problems of the Turkish medical device industry, which was already struggling for survival and growth in a hostile policy environment. Local blood bag manufacturer Kansuk Laboratory talked to Medtech Insight about the difficulties it faces.