Below you will find basic demographic and economic data for Poland, plus specific information about the country's medical device and healthcare industries.
Polish medical device industry: Poland is the sixth largest country in the European Union, with a population of more than 38 million. With a medical device market valued at $2.2 billion in 2014, the Polish medical device market is immature compared to nations of similar size.
Domestic device manufacturers contend with a range of challenges, from insufficient marketing resources to inefficient production methods. However, Polish manufacturers are slowly becoming more competitive and expanding to other markets.
Opportunities in the Polish market: Although the Polish medical device market is relatively small, it is expanding. The majority of medical devices used by healthcare providers in Poland are imported. The aging Polish population also creates increased demand for medical technology, particularly in the home-care market. Other opportunities exist in the areas of diagnostic equipment, surgical equipment, cardiovascular, oncology, and nuclear medicine.
Industry challenges in Poland: Establishing a new device in the Polish market can be challenging. The most popular products succeed by word-of-mouth and are competitive in price. Medical device importers that are new to the market will need to invest heavily in marketing strategy and distribution efforts, to ensure healthcare providers are informed about your device. Manufacturers must also make their products readily available in the market to compete with other European importers.
How Poland compares to other markets
| POLAND | FRANCE | SWITZERLAND | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 38,562,189 | 66,553,766 | 8,121,830 |
| Primary language(s) | Polish | French | German |
| Total healthcare spending | $35 billion | $330 billion | $78.6 billion |
| Healthcare expenditures total (% of GDP) | 6.4% | 11.5% | 11.7% |
| Healthcare expenditures per capita | $910 (USD) | $4959 (USD) | $9674 (USD) |
| Expenditures on healthcare | Government: 71% Private: 29% |
Government: 78% Private: 22% |
Government: 66% Private: 34% |
| Size of medical device market (USD) | $2.2 billion (USD – 2014) | $14.5 billion (USD) | $3.5 billion (USD – 2014) |
| Number of hospital beds | 6.5 per 1000 people | 6.4 per 1000 people | 5 per 1000 people |
| Age distribution | 0-14 years: 15% 15-64 years: 69% 65 years and over: 16% (2015 est.) |
0-14 years: 19% 15-64 years: 72% 65 years and over: 19% (2015 est.) |
0-14 years: 15% 15-64 years: 67% 65 years and over: 18% (2015 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | Male: 74 years Female: 82 years |
Male: 78 years Female: 85 years |
Male: 80 years Female: 85 years |
| Currency | Polish zloty | Euro (€) | Swiss franc |
Want to see how Poland compares to many other countries in Europe and around the world? Download our free PDF Healthcare spending by country.
