According to a study conducted by Business Monitors International (BMI Research), the MedTech market in South-Africa is expected to grow from $1.3 billion US to around $1.7 billion US by 2021. The main growth drivers are medical consumer goods, such as wound dressings, syringes, needles, catheters, diagnostic imaging, electro-diagnostic equipment, radiology equipment, orthopaedics, prosthetics and aids.

The growth factors in the healthcare market are infectious diseases, such as HIV and tuberculosis (e.g. 11.2% of the total population were HIV-positive in 2011). There is also high prevalence of cardiovascular, renal and respiratory diseases due to a lifestyle change. Obesity is a rising problem, triggered mainly by the bad eating. Around 70% of the female and 30% of the male population over the age of 15 are overweight. According to estimates in 2017, four million of these individuals already had diabetes.

The MedTech market in South-Africa has so far been largely unregulated. Government is reforming approval regulations for medical technology products. Thusm in 2017, Government created Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).

Despite the good reputation of the medical profession, it is lacking when it comes to medical care delivered to the total population of approximately 55 million people. Many specialists prefer better paid private clinics to the public hospitals. Thus, 80% of doctors treat 16% of patients (about 9 million), i.e. the wealthy. The three largest private hospital groups are Netcare, Mediclinic and Life Healthcare.

The 3,900 public health facilities do not meet European standards, not only because of low-quality, outdated medical equipment, but also because of staff shortages and very long wait times, even in the case of serious injuries.

(Sources: SAHPRA, BMI Research)