The devaluation of the Turkish Lira since May is making imports of medical devices more expensive and putting hospital procurement under renewed pressure. The local medtech industry associations TUMDEF and ARTED describe the problems  ̶  and the solutions  ̶  to Medtech Insight.

Turkish medtechs’ demands for payment of their outstanding hospital debts went unheeded in 2021, but the government has finally started a payment process. It is not evenly applied, and has started in a small way, but the industry feels encouraged on more than one count.

Amid delays in surgical operations caused by shortages of equipment and medtech companies demanding payment of outstanding hospital debts, a strong devaluation of the Turkish lira has put the local health care system on a crisis footing.

Late payment of hospital debts continues to haunt the Turkish medtech industry, which recently led a public demonstration in Ankara to focus the government’s attention on the issue. Medtech multinationals fear that the ongoing problems will mean Turkey losing the positive momentum it achieved during the pandemic.

Alignment with the MDR gave Turkish medtech access to the EU market, but in domestic pricing, costs, reimbursement and payment of hospital debts, industry might feel it is barely at the starting line.

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.