Central and Eastern European Surgical Disposables Markets

As emerging markets look to raise the quality of their healthcare services, there has been a significant uptake of surgical disposables such as drapes, gowns, gloves, and masks in central and Eastern Europe. These are the latest findings from Frost & Sullivan (Frost, Palo Alto, CA, USA), an international consulting firm.

Rising levels of awareness about preventative measures for healthcare-related infections have heightened progress in this market. Appropriate training and education to undertake decontamination and minimize the spread of disease is also becoming increasingly common. The market does however face the challenge of adhering to, and maintaining, European Union (EU) standards of healthcare. As new eastern European member states join the EU, they are compelled to raise their healthcare standards to meet EU-mandated standards; medical devices such as disposable drapes, gowns, and masks have to be produced to a high quality, and this increases the manufacturing costs. This is posing a challenge to companies operating in this region, as they face the added challenge of the strong and entrenched market presence of Asian manufacturers. Tightening healthcare budgets and a pervasive preference for low-cost products are combining to drive the purchase of lower quality surgical disposables drapes, gowns, gloves and masks that may not be sufficiently effective in preventing the contraction of fatal diseases.

"High-quality and safe surgical disposables are not a low-cost option and the private healthcare sector is ideally placed to offer such alternatives to patients,” said Frost & Sullivan analyst Radha Sawhny. "The development of the private healthcare market and the creation of greater awareness among patients and physicians with the help of educational initiatives will therefore be key to sustaining market momentum.”

Frost & Sullivan has found that the Central and Eastern European surgical disposables market earned revenues of U.S. $35.1 million in 2007 and estimates this to nearly triple by 2014 to reach $101 million

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