Turkey Import Regulations for Pre-Owned (Used and Refurbished) Medical Devices - Customs Forum

**admin** · 07-24-2011, 23:43 PM

General Market Condition: Restricted
Turkey's demand for medical products and related equipment is expected to continue to grow in the coming years. The current total market size for the overall medical equipment sector is approximately US$ 750 million, with the US share being a healthy fifteen percent. The estimated annual growth rate of imports from the United States is 20 percent.
In recent years, the Government of Turkey has allocated more funding to healthcare, substantially improving most of Turkey's healthcare standards. However, healthcare services are still inadequate to cope with a rapidly expanding population (currently about 65 million and growing by nearly two percent annually). Health expenditures represent approximately 5 percent of GNP.
The Turkish Ministry of Health (MOH) is the largest provider of healthcare in Turkey. Health care facilities operated by MOH account for approximately 84,000 beds. Other government agencies including the Ministry of National Defense, Social Security Agency (SSK), various public sector medical faculties and municipalities account for an additional 70,000 beds. The private sector, including foreign organizations and various associations, operate a total of 15,000 beds.
The private sector is actively expanding its role in the health sector. New capital-intensive medical technologies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and megavolt radiation therapy will continue to be purchased by Turkish hospitals. Major suppliers are the United States, Europe, and Japan. The Turkish business community has a high opinion of US medical equipment and suppliers.
Demand for used, refurbished equipment (traditionally low), has increased over the last few years and is becoming an alternative source for emerging distributors and end-users because of lower prices and shorter delivery time. Current Turkish import regulations permit the importation of used equipment, no more than five years old. Equipment between five and ten years old is technically subject to a 50 percent import duty. The importation of devices over ten years old is prohibited.
The World Bank contributes to the financing of the government's healthcare improvement projects and has lent $76 million and $140 million respectively for the First and Second Health Projects between 1991 and 2001. Total investment required for these two projects was $346 million, and the Turkish Government supplied the remaining portion.
Most major government tenders outside the scope of the World Bank Health Project still require supplier credit. The GOT also encourages use of the 'Build-Operate-Transfer' (BOT) model as a means of procuring equipment for which funds are scarce. The BOT model calls for the vendor to install and operate the equipment, receive the revenues from the use of equipment, and finally transfer the equipment at the end of a specified period that covers expenses and profit.
Effective June 1, 1996, all medical equipment imports are subject to the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE) approval. USFDA approval is regarded as a seal of quality. Medical devices for sale (without restrictions) in the United States may normally be imported for sale in Turkey.

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