Medical device companies, particularly SMEs, are having a tough time in accessing the local market in Turkey and on being paid enough once they get there. Kemal Yaz, president of the Federation of the Medical Device Manufacturers’ and Suppliers’ Association (TUMDEF), spoke to Medtech Insight about local manufacturers’ problems and expectations.

Turkey’s health ministry has disclosed that the forthcoming $10bn medical device tender must come with conditions that strengthen the local manufacturing infrastructure. It must also give Turkey “real” technology with IP rights, not merely an assembly activity for parts manufactured abroad. The tender will be ready in some two to three months.

The EU has filed a complaint at the WTO against Turkey’s localization policy, which forces multinational pharmaceutical companies to produce medicines in Turkey. Industry sources say the EU may not get what it wants.

Production localization and the fixed rate set for the euro against the lira will be key topics for the pharma industry in Turkey this year, with the expected further devaluation of the domestic currency likely to inflict more damage on companies. Turgut Tokgöz, secretary general of the Turkish industry association, spoke to Scrip.

The Turkish government has set the fixed Euro rate to calculate drug prices at TRY3.40 for 2019.

With the Turkish medicine shortage situation as bad as ever, the national pharmacists’ association has said that 521 products are now “hard to find,” while 141 are unavailable. A government move to adjust the fixed euro rate on which drug prices are calculated is not expected to do much to solve the problem.