Slovakia - Optical, Photo, Medical/Surgical Instruments, HS Code 90 Slovakia - Optical, Photo, Med/Surgic
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 (Estimated) | |
| Total Market Size | 9,368,855 | 9,204,438 | 9,111,901 | 8,600,000 |
| Total Local Production | 7,259,000 | 7,926,000 | 8,256,000 | 7,500,000 |
| Total Exports | 659,740 | 931,385 | 993,919 | 900,000 |
| Total Imports | 2,769,595 | 2,209,823 | 1,849,820 | 2,000,000 |
| Imports from the U.S. | 23,246 | 27,513 | 24,937 | 28,000 |
| Exchange Rate: 1 USD | 1.1069 | 1.1297 | 1.1810 | 1.14 |
Data Sources:
Total Local Production: Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic
Total Exports: Global Trade Atlas
Total Imports: Global Trade Atlas
Imports from U.S.: Global Trade Atlas
Exchange Rate: European Central Bank
Leading Sub-Sectors
The following specific items were the leading exports from the U.S. to Slovakia covered by this Leading Sector, ranked in USD from 2017 to 2018:
| HS code | ITEM | 2016 | 2017 |
| 9022 | X-Ray Etc Apparatus; Tubes, Panels, Screen Etc, Pt | 5,628,634 | 5,728,867 |
| 9018 | Medical, Surgical, Dental Or Vet Inst, No Elec, Pt | 7,348,921 | 4,463,495 |
| 9031 | Machines, Nesoi In Chapter 90; Profile Project, Pt | 3,707,272 | 2,638,040 |
| 9027 | Inst Etc For Physical Etc Anal Etc; Microtome; Pts | 2,645,667 | 2,421,827 |
| 9032 | Automatic Regulating Or Control Instruments; Parts | 319,302 | 1,954,473 |
| 9002 | Optical Elements, Mounted; Parts & Accessories | 1,023,319 | 1,188,247 |
| 9001 | Opt Fibers & Bund Etc; Pol Sheets; Unmoun Opt Elem | 789,679 | 1,057,500 |
| 9021 | Orthopedic Appl; Artif Body Pts; Hear Aid; Pts Etc | 692,436 | 804,743 |
| 9026 | Inst Etc Measure Or Check Flow, Level Etc, Pts Etc | 633,082 | 768,547 |
| 9029 | Revolution & Production Count, Taximeters Etc, Pts | 855,439 | 728,890 |
| 9013 | Liquid Crystal Devices Nesoi; Lasers; Opt Appl; Pt | 852,253 | 580,460 |
| 9030 | Oscilloscopes, Spectrum Analyzers Etc, Parts Etc | 810,937 | 526,791 |
| 9015 | Survey, Hydrogr, Meteoro Etc Inst; Rangef Etc, Pts | 270,599 | 319,570 |
| 9019 | Mech-Ther, Massage, Psych Test, Ozone App Etc, Pts | 471,711 | 319,037 |
| 9023 | Inst, Appts&Models,For Demonstrational Use& Parts | 60,181 | 261,271 |
| 9014 | Direction Finding Compasses & Navig Inst Etc, Pts | 537,440 | 191,945 |
| 9024 | Machines Etc For Testing Mech Prop Of Material, Pt | 182,299 | 184,397 |
| 9028 | Gas, Liquid Or Electric Supply Etc Meters, Parts | 107,053 | 172,237 |
Optical, photo and measuring equipment consumption has increased in Slovakia. The market has become increasingly focused on high tech products. Most equipment is still imported. New entrants face competition from the same international competitors they encounter elsewhere in the world. Most opportunities are in industrial production, especially automotive, and in the medical and dental sectors.
Following the introduction of e-health and private health care services to Slovakia, most private health care centers continue to invest considerable amounts of money in new health care equipment. Moreover, there are about 3,661 dentists in Slovakia, most of whom are private practitioners who receive full payment for their services directly from patients. Private dental clinics are interested in keeping up-to-date on the latest technological advances and procuring new equipment to satisfy the demands of their customers. Especially promising segments for U.S. suppliers of dental equipment are laser dentistry, implants, and cosmetic/aesthetic dentistry.
Planned major government medical and health projects include:
From 2021 to 2030, the government will reduce the total number of full service hospitals from 78 to 46. The European Union will provide EUR 150 million (USD 171 million) for the modernization of 44 of the remaining hospitals.
Construction of a new hospital in Bratislava with 578 beds and top-notch medical technology should be finished by 2024. The new hopital will have to purchase medical laboratory equipment, diagnostic medical equipment, life support equipment, and treatment equipment. The total project volume is USD 318 million.
eHealth, launched with an eleven-year postponement in 2018, still lacks registration of one third of Slovak healthcare providers. The total cost of eHealth is over EUR 123 million (USD 140 million) with additional EUR 60 million (USD 68.4 million) to be invested in the near future.
Web Resources
Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic
Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic
Slovak Dental Chamber Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.