This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.


Overview

The Gambia has a small medical services industry with only a few clinics.  Patients requiring advanced medical care or treatment usually go abroad, most frequently to Senegal.  Over the past five years, a few private clinics have opened.  These include the Afrimed, Sharab, and Medicare clinics.  Specialist care and advanced medical equipment are in very short supply.  Most public medical establishments are equipped with lower quality equipment and facilities, as compared to privately-owned ones.
Table 7. The Gambia Pharmaceuticals Trade Data 2014 – 2017, value (US $)

 2014201520162017 (Estimated)
Total Local Productionn/an/an/an/a
Total Exportsn/an/an/an/a
Total Importsn/an/an/an/a
Imports from the US
 		n/an/an/an/a
Total Market Sizen/an/an/an/a
Exchange Rates: 1USD40424445

(total market size = (total local production + imports) - exports)
Source: n/a
Source (exchange rate data): Central Bank of The Gambia

Leading Sub-Sectors

The demand for medical services will continue to grow and more private clinics and hospitals are expected to be built.  This growth will increase demand for medical equipment.  Equipment in particularly short supply includes echocardiogram (EKG) equipment, scanners, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other diagnostic equipment.

Opportunities

The African Development Bank recently approved financing for a modern, privately-run maternal health hospital that will operate in The Gambia.  This is an opportunity for the supply of equipment such as x-ray machines, scanners, MRI, laboratory testing systems, and other medical equipment in the medium term. In the short term, opportunities to engage with international NGOs on the provision of less advanced medical and health technology present several opportunities for U.S. SMEs.

Web Resources

The Gambia Ministry of Health and Social Welfare

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