Government Initiatives Support the South African Dental Products Market, Finds Frost & Sullivan

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The South African Government's policies regarding the new National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme should significantly enhance the South African dental products market. By creating greater access to dental treatments, this initiative will not only improve basic dental services, but also increase the number of elective surgeries, brightening the prospects of dental product vendors.

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New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.medicaldevices.frost.com), The South African Dental Products Market, finds that the market earned revenues of $103.5 million in 2009 and estimates this to reach $167.5 million in 2016.

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"The market is expected to experience greater investments in elective and cosmetic surgeries, as the country shakes off the effects of the economic downturn," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Sandhya Miseer. "The Government has pledged 4.7 per cent of its healthcare budget to oral care and has been conducting oral health campaigns to create awareness about the importance of oral health."

As oral diseases are largely preventable, the country is giving top priority to oral health promotion and primary prevention. These strong marketing and educational campaigns, along with an expanding older population, will give a leg-up to the dental products market.

"The rising prevalence of oral diseases in major pockets of the South African population, especially the underserved, disadvantaged and urbanising communities, has caused healthcare bodies in the country to sit up and take notice," Miseer explains.

More than 90 per cent of the population in South Africa has suffered dental caries and required dental treatment. Aged people require more tooth replacements and restorations, as the dentine grows weaker. South Africa, with the largest elderly population in Southern Africa (more than 1 in 8 people are aged 50 and above and nearly 7 percent are aged 60 and above), presents a goldmine of opportunities to product manufacturers.

South African healthcare professionals, in general, are sought-after all over the world. There are currently five institutions in South Africa that produce approximately 400 graduates each year. South Africa has 8,991 registered dental practitioners, of which only an estimated 3,000 are currently practising in the country. Professional practitioners have mostly immigrated to developed countries such as the United Kingdom due to inadequate remuneration and infrastructure.

"To serve the vast patient pool in South Africa, colleges have added compulsory community service to dental graduates' training, so the underserved sections have better access to basic dental care," notes Miseer. "More dental practitioners that provide services and dental treatments will, in turn, enhance the growth of the dental products market."

The South African Dental Products Market is part of the Medical Devices Growth Partnership Services programme, which also includes research in the following markets: The Medical Imaging Market in Tanzania, South African Advanced Wound Care Market, Strategic Analysis of the Healthcare Industry in Zambia and Overview of the Healthcare Industry in Namibia. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

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The South African Dental Products Market

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan