Saudi government's recent announcement of increased spending in the country's health care is attracting growing number of international exhibitors to participate in the Saudi Medicare 2010 to be held at Riyadh International Exhibition Center from April 12 to 15, said Mohammed Al-Hussaini, Deputy General Manager, Riyadh Exhibitions Company (REC). “Demand for pharmaceutical products, medical supplies and related services has picked up on account of the Saudi government's efforts to strengthen the country's ability to provide world-class health care to its citizens and residents,” Al-Hussaini said. He said the robust outlook of the country's health care and pharmaceutical sectors was evident from the increased number of participation in the upcoming Saudi Medicare 2010 – the 13th International health care, Hospital Supplies and Medical Equipment Show. REC has registered a 30 percent increase in exhibition area to accommodate a significant rise in exhibitors and trade visitors, including a growing number of corporate decision makers of health care multinationals and foreign investors, “who are on the lookout for lucrative business and investment opportunities in the Kingdom,” he said. Saudi Medicare 2010 expected to serve as a starting point for a new era of growth in the country's health care industry with new business opportunities emerging in medical devices and supplies, generic pharmaceuticals, health care insurance and education, he said. Saudi Medicare 2010, to be held in conjunction with the 4th Medical Devices Scientific Forum, offers a huge potential in the relatively new area of e-health, which has received a major boost with the government's efforts to establish a national electronic record system for health care, he added. Driven by growing health care demand the pharmaceutical and health care spending in Saudi Arabia is expected to reach SR13.09 billion by 2013 from SR9.94 billion in 2008, he said. The positive growth trend reinforces the country's reputation as a key stakeholder in the regional health care industry as Saudi's drug market already accounts for a dominating 65 percent of all pharmaceutical sales in the GCC countries. Saudi Arabia's pharmaceutical and medical device markets, in particular, are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7
