[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18318-18321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06797]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
U.S. Healthcare Trade Mission to Turkey
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade
Administration.
Mission Description
The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (CS) is organizing
an Executive-Led U.S.--Turkey Healthcare Trade Mission to Ankara,
Istanbul, and Izmir on May 4-8, 2014.
The trade mission to this Department-priority market follows
successful Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency and Aerospace/Defense
trade missions in December 2011 and December 2012 respectively.
Turkey has a compelling economic success story to tell and its
healthcare sector has followed suit. 2011 was a record year for U.S.
exports to Turkey and 2012 is expected to be a close second. Moreover,
the Government of Turkey has set an ambitious goal of becoming a top
ten economy by 2023; Turkey is currently at number 17. The U.S.--Turkey
Healthcare Trade Mission is intended support growing healthcare
services and technologies demand in Turkey. The Mission will focus on
high-potential healthcare sub-sectors and opportunities identified
through our market research. We expect the trade mission delegation to
include representatives from a variety of U.S. medical equipment and
device manufacturers and healthcare services providers. The mission
will introduce these suppliers to end-users and prospective partners
whose needs and capabilities are targeted to each U.S. participant's
strengths. Trade mission participants will have the opportunity to
interact extensively with Commercial Service (CS) Turkey officers and
specialists and key players in the industry to discuss industry
developments, opportunities, and sales strategies.
Commercial Setting
Turkey is at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and North
Africa. With a population close to 80 million people, it has a
significantly higher population growth rate compared than the U.K.,
France, Italy, and Germany. Median age is 29 years with 67% of the
population between the ages of 15 to 64. Average life expectancy is 75
years. It has a fast-growing middle class that is willing to spend more
on quality goods and services, and a democratically elected government
which has historically invested in raising living standards. Turkey's
GDP tripled in the last decade and is widely considered as one of the
fastest growing economies in the world today.
Turkey has a public healthcare system with a $20 billion federal
budget for 2013--an increase of 19% over 2012. Healthcare budget
allocation in the national budget jumped from 2.25% in 2002 to 4.4% in
2012 while per capita healthcare spending grew from $330 to $780 in the
same period. With the OECD per capita spending average at $2,386 in
2012, there is significant growth potential in this market thanks to
Turkey's growing income and government programs. The Turkish government
has made healthcare access and quality a priority. To improve
healthcare access for its citizens, Turkey, in the last decade,
invested $4.7 billion in healthcare construction. This resulted in a
172% increase in the number of hospital visits since 2002. Now the
focus has evolved to quality care as state hospitals compete with
privately run institutions. The government has unveiled a PPP (Public
Private Partnership) initiative where 29 integrated health campuses
will be built. A total of 45,000 beds will be integrated into the
Turkish healthcare system through this model. Sixty percent of these
projects have either been tendered or contracted, however equipment/
services packages will only be finalized in 2014-2015.
Specific Opportunities for Trade Mission Delegates
Today, the medical equipment and supplies market is a $2.2 billion
industry, placing Turkey in the worldwide marketplace for healthcare
goods. By 2015, the medical equipment and supplies market in Turkey is
projected to reach $3 billion as the above-mentioned integrated health
campuses are built. These projects lend opportunities to healthcare
architectural and engineering firms, medical device and supplies
manufacturers as well as hospital operators.
The Ministry of Health is the largest purchaser in the healthcare
market in Turkey. The Table below shows the distribution of healthcare
facilities by type of ownership:
[[Page 18319]]
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2002 2011 Growth percent
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Type Number of Number of Number of
Number of Percent hospital Percent Number of Percent hospital Percent Number of hospital
hospitals beds hospitals beds hospitals beds
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Ministry of Health.............. 774 67 107,394 65 840 58 121,297 62 8.5 12
University...................... 50 4 26,341 16 65 4 34,802 18 30 32
Private......................... 271 23 12,387 8 503 35 31,648 16 85 155
Other........................... 61 6 18,349 12 45 3 6,757 4 -26 -63
���������������������������������
Total................... 1,156 .......... 164,471 .......... 1,453 .......... 194,504 .......... 26 19
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The growth in the number of healthcare facilities, the patients
accessing healthcare services, and the renewed focus on quality care
has resulted in higher demand for advanced medical devices like MRI,
CT, ECHO, Ultrasound and Doppler Ultrasonography. U.S. firms are
particularly competitive in these sectors, thus our trade mission
focus. Growth in the number of devices in Turkey's in-patient
healthcare facilities from 2002 to 2011 is impressive:
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Growth
Type of device 2002 2011 (percent)
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MRI.................................... 58 781 1,247
CT..................................... 323 1,088 237
ECHO................................... 259 1,181 356
Ultrasound............................. 1,005 3,775 276
Doppler Ultrasonography................ 681 2,091 207
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Medical services for foreign patients, also sustains growth in the
Turkish medical equipment and healthcare markets. It is estimated that
Turkish private and public establishments will serve one million
foreign patients by 2015. Turkey attracts a lot of patients from the
Middle East, North Africa and Europe. These patients mainly visit
Turkish hospitals for bone marrow transplantation, cardiovascular
surgery, cyber knife and gamma knife treatments, ophthalmology, plastic
surgery, dental services and oncology. Again, U.S. exporters are highly
competitive in these sectors.
As a result of this externally and internally driven transformation
in the Turkish health sector, we believe there are opportunities for
U.S. manufacturers for the following medical devices -
Advanced pre-screening and diagnostics devices,
Advanced point-of-care devices,
Advanced surgical devices,
Remote patient monitoring devices,
Cancer treatment devices,
Clinical chemistry and laboratory devices,
Dental devices,
Implants used in orthopedics and traumatology
Ultrasound and Imaging equipment
E-health and Mhealth systems and
Telemedicine systems
Mission Goals
Our mission goal is to leverage our detailed understanding of the
Turkish healthcare market and match its demand with select U.S.
suppliers to generate sales on an immediate or short-term basis. For
the medium and longer term, the goal is to educate participants on the
healthcare-related commercial, political and regulatory environment in
Turkey in order to arm them with the ability to sustain and expand
their business in Turkey and around the region.
Mission Scenario
The trade mission will go to Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir May 4-8,
2014. Recognizing Turkey's regional importance, CS Bulgaria and State
Partner Posts, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan will
join the mission on the last day to meet with U.S. participants looking
for regional opportunities.
Trade mission members will meet with officials from the Ministry of
Health and Social Security Agency, and will take part in business
matchmaking appointments with private-sector entities. In addition,
they will attend an Embassy briefing and networking events with
industry and business associations, and participate in two site visits.
Participation in the mission will include the following:
Pre-travel briefings/webinar on subjects ranging from
business practices in Turkey to industry opportunities;
Pre-screened, targeted 1-1 meetings with potential
partners, distributors, or local industry contacts in Ankara, Izmir and
Istanbul;
Briefing by the U.S. Embassy Country Team;
Transportation to/from Ambassador residence and all
official networking events.
Participation in industry networking receptions;
Optional add-on for meetings with potential customers from
Bulgaria, Caucasus and Central Asia.
Proposed Timetable
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Sunday, May 4................ Trade Mission Participants
Arrive in Ankara.
Sponsored reception.
Monday, May 5................ Welcome Briefing by U.S.
Ambassador and U.S. Embassy Country
Team.
[[Page 18320]]
Presentation by the Ministry of
Health on Turkish healthcare system and
Social Security Agency on healthcare
reimbursement system;
Delegation splits into groups.
Customized briefing by Ministry of
Health officials for each group's
specific line of business;
Hosted Lunch for mission
participants.
One-on-one business matchmaking
appointments.
Ambassador's Reception.
Tuesday, May 6............... Morning flight to Izmir.
No-host lunch.
One-on-one business matchmaking
appointments.
Sponsored dinner--Bay Cruise.
Wednesday, May 7............. Morning flight to Istanbul.
Site visit of a Turkish private
hospital (includes sponsored lunch at
hospital).
Site visit at a Turkish public
hospital.
No-host dinner.
Thursday, May 8.............. Full-day one-on-one business
matchmaking appointments.
Evening networking event dinner.
Friday, May 9 (Optional)..... One-on-one business matchmaking
appointments with delegations from
Partner Posts (as needed).
Trade Mission ends.
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Participation Requirements
All parties interested in participating in the Executive-Led U.S.--
Turkey Healthcare Trade Mission must complete and submit an application
for consideration by the Department of Commerce. All applicants will be
evaluated on their ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy
the selection criteria as outlined below. The mission is open on a
first come first served basis up to 18-22 qualified U.S. companies.
Post can host a maximum of 22 individual firms, as such, we will vet
applicants on the basis of their consistency with the selection
criteria listed below.
Fees and Expenses
After a company has been selected to participate on the mission, a
payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of a participation
fee is required. The participation fee for one principal representative
will be $ 4,665 for large firms and $3,553 for a small or medium-sized
enterprise (SME).\*\ The fee for each additional firm representative
(large firm or SME) is $ 750. Expenses for lodging, some meals,
incidentals, and travel to/from Turkey and flights in Turkey will be
the responsibility of each mission participant.
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\*\ An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer employees or
that otherwise qualifies as a small business under SBA regulations
(see http://www.sba.gov/services/contracting opportunities/
sizestandardstopics/index.html). Parent companies, affiliates, and
subsidiaries will be considered when determining business size. The
dual pricing schedule reflects the Commercial Service's user fee
schedule that became effective May 1, 2008 (for additional
information see http://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html).
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Conditions for Participation
An applicant must submit a completed and signed mission
application and supplemental application materials, including adequate
information on the company's products and/or services, primary market
objectives, and goals for participation.
Each applicant must also certify that the products and
services it seeks to export through the mission are either produced in
the United States, or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm
and have at least fifty-one percent U.S. content.
Selection Criteria for Participation
Selection will be based on the following criteria:
Suitability of a company's products or services to the
mission's goals.
Applicant's potential for business in Turkey, including
likelihood of exports resulting from the trade mission.
Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with
the stated scope of the trade mission.
Any partisan political activities (including political
contributions) of an applicant are entirely irrelevant to the selection
process. Referrals from political organizations and any information,
including on the application, containing references to political
contributions or other partisan political activities will be excluded
from the application and will not be considered during the selection
process.
Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications
Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner,
including publication in the Federal Register (https://www.federalregister.gov/), posting on ITA's business development
mission calendar (http://export.gov/trademissions) and other Internet
web sites, press releases to general and trade media, direct mail,
broadcast fax, notices by industry trade associations and other
multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia,
conferences, and trade shows.
Recruitment will begin immediately and conclude no later than
Monday, December 16, 2013. The Department of Commerce will evaluate
applications and inform applicants of selection in three group
vettings, Group A, Group B, and Group C respectively.
We will vet all of the applications that are eligible at the time
of each vetting as a group on the three dates listed below:
Group A--August 15, 2013
Group B--October 14, 2013
Group C--December 16, 2013
Applications received after the December 16 deadline will be
considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.
How To Apply
Applications can be downloaded from the business development
mission Web site (http://export.gov/trademissions/turkeyhealthcare2014)
or can be obtained by contacting the list of contacts (below).
Completed applications should be submitted to Global Trade Programs at
(email: [email protected] or fax: 202-482-9000).
Contacts
U.S. Commercial Service, Trade Events Program
Ms. Jessica Arnold, International Trade Specialist, Tel: 202-482-2026,
Email: [email protected].
U.S. Commercial Service Turkey
Mr. Manoj Desai, Commercial Officer, Email: [email protected].
[[Page 18321]]
Ms. Ebru Olcay, Commercial Specialist, Email: [email protected].
U.S. Commercial Service Turkey
55 New Sudbury Street, Suite 1826A, Boston, MA 02203, Tel: 617 565-
4301, Fax: 617 565-4313, Email: [email protected].
American Consulate General
Ucsehitler Sok. Kaplicalar Mevkii No: 2, 34460 Istinye, Istanbul,
Turkey, Tel: (90) 212 335-9000, Fax: (90) 212 335-9223.
U.S. Commercial Service Medical Technologies Team
Michelle Ouellette, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S.
Department of Commerce, U.S. Export Assistance Center--Massachusetts.
Elnora Moye,
Trade Program Assistant.
[FR Doc. 2013-06797 Filed 3-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-FP-P