Industrial gloves
Introduction
The healthcare sector is one of the most fundamental sectors to a country’s economy. Many investors are looking to invest in the sector due the increased demand of health care services across the globe. Qatar has experienced a vast growth in its population which has failed to match the expansion of the country’s health care facilities. The government has made major amendments to its regulations which are aimed at encouraging foreign investors to invest in the country, most especially in the health care sector. The government is also paying a lot of attention to quality assurance in the health care sector and common procedures such as the possession of surgical gloves by medical practitioners is becoming more relevant . Other concerns include the availability and accessibility of this equipment in Qatar and the entire GCC community, considering that the region has very limited manufacturers in the pharmaceutical sector. The manufacture of gloves in Qatar has a bright future due to the increased demands of health care services, the wealth of the Qatar population, as well as government legislations which provides businesses with cheap labor and conducive business environment for foreign investors.
Qatar experiences high levels of political stability which encourage investors to visit the country. The country’s population which is manageable assures the country of its stability as there is little or no chances of the population retaliating against the government. The preparations for the 2022 world cup games is predicted to increase the countries growth from 4.4 to a 4.8 in 2017, and this growth is expected to go even higher as the FIFA world cup games approaches and hit its optimal levels in 2022 . Qatar population is wealthy giving the manufacturers a ready market for their products. The country’s taxing plan encourages foreign investors to launch investment ventures in the country due to its liberal taxing system which limits the number of obstacles to investors in the industry. The crime environment in the country is most conducive since the crime levels are low, reducing the cost incurred by businesses on insurance and security measures. Despite the fact that the country is located in a potential terrorist ridden zone, the country faces no such risk since it has strong diplomatic relations with its neighboring countries. The country has well-established security forces and a well-equipped military force.
Labor market
The labor market in the industry, however, causes a major challenge for businesses. The country labor market has strict legislative laws, not to mention that the country’s population experiences high literacy levels. However, the country provides cheap labor due to its low employment cost and the increased numbers of immigrants in the country . The quality of education in the country is however considered low.
The pharmaceutical industry
In 2013, the country recorded an increased number of surgical glove applications, with companies recording a 13 percent growth in sales . Natural rubbers have been used commonly in the manufacture of surgical gloves, but the industry is becoming more receptive to synthetic rubber which is protein free and reduce the chances of causing the users an allergic reaction. Surgical gloves are used to protect the user against contamination. These gloves are made from natural rubber. The healthcare sector in Qatar is expected to outgrow that of its fellow countries in the Gulf region. Demands in the healthcare sector are expected to be on a steady rise for the next five years. The outpatient market is expected to account for 79 percent of the market while 21 percent will be accounted for by the inpatient services . In 2011, consumption in the health care sector amounted to 41.6 billion. This is the highest recording in the GCC community. Saudi Arabia is believed to be the richest country in the GCC community, and yet the country spent only 11.7 billion USD in the same year.
Demographics
The population in the country is experiencing a steady rise with the government hoping to open more health care facilities. Improved lifestyle in the country is expected to see the emergence of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and obesity. The country recently introduced a health insurance plan which dictates that all citizens in the country be insured by the year 2015. The government and employers are expected to cater for these expenses. The number of physicians in the country has risen from 24 physicians per every 10,000 patients to 28 physicians, which is the highest in the GCC . The country is implementing measures which will integrate the public health care sector and the private health care sector, to standardize the quality of health care services in the country. The country’s expenses in overseas health care services doubled in 2011 to reach 329.6 million USD. Most of these costs were spent on elective surgeries. The local population in the country lacks confidence in the countries health care sector. 69 percent of doctors and 91 percent of nurses in the country are recruited from foreign countries.
More students are joining medical institutions in the country as the health care demands maintain a steady growth. Qatar enjoys the availability of oil reserves in the country, making it the healthiest member of the GCC. Worldwide, Qatar is considered one of the most prosperous countries and records the second highest GDP per capita due to the oil reserves in the country. Both foreign and local investments are gaining popularity in the country. The largest population in Qatar is made of foreigners as Qataris make only 20 percent of the entire population . The country’s workforce relies on other Arab nations as well as immigrants from other parts of the world. Qatari’s are known for their existence in large families as well as the high birth rates. The traditional blame game culture in the country is being streamlined with data collections and drills being a more common phenomenon.
Opportunities
The country has various medical institutions such as the Weill Cornell Medical College, which offers premedical and medical curriculums in the country. These institutions have partnerships with hospitals in the country which allow students to acquire clinical education in these hospitals. The country has dedicated a large percentage of its GDP towards medical research in the country. In 2010, the country spent an approximate 28 percent of its total GDP on research. Qataris are entitled to free treatment while expatriates can gain access to health care services with the use of a health card which is available for 25 USD (Goodman, 2015). The cost of health care services in the country is heavily subsidized by the government. The government is, however, paying closer attention to quality assurance in the healthcare sector. The country’s health care systems have experienced exponential growth over the past 50 years, which is commendable when compared to other countries. The country has invested heavily in the importation of more technologically advanced equipment. The country hopes to enjoy similar healthcare facilities and services like those offered in the United States.
The growth of the country’s population has outgrown the growth of health care facilities in the country; the population growth is reported at 204 percent, while the growth of the health care facilities has only gone up by 62 percent between 2003 and 2014. Recent ministerial decisions have allowed the non-residential to operate in the commercial health care sector in health care centers and clinics. Clinics have been deployed in retail centers and major rail hubs in the country. Major medical facilities in the country are also undergoing renovations following the government’s plan to ensure that the healthcare facilities in the country are renewed every 30 years. The group of people in need of healthcare services include the young males who work in dangerous industrial centers. The government is making plans to provide specialized health care facilities for this group of people in the country.
Inpatient facilities are made available to patients through the thirteen hospitals in the country. Outpatient health care services are made available through outpatient outlets which include the numerous health centers and clinics in the country. In 2011, the country received 9,420,712 visits for the outpatient health care services, while the inpatient health care services were 85,555 .
Manufacturing process
The manufacture of surgical gloves in the country is mostly done by pharmacies in the country. These pharmacies include inpatient and outpatient pharmacies, community pharmacies, drug stores and drug manufacturers . Surgical gloves are required by individuals in need of surgical services and by physicians during treatment to avoid contamination. The safety of surgical gloves used by physicians during treatment is becoming one of the leading concerns in the health care sector. Some of these concerns include radiation and presence of allergens in the raw materials used in the manufacture of surgical gloves. The multi-step processing will be used in the manufacture of the surgical gloves. Raw materials which include natural rubber which will be extracted and modified and then later used to manufacture the surgical gloves which is the end product of this company. The company will also invest in synthetic rubber which has no allergens and is gaining popularity among medical practitioners. These gloves should be lightly powdered, with beaded cuffs and a micro-rough finish to enhance grip, and bent fingers. The packaging of the surgical gloves is expected to be sterile with individual packaging for each pair of surgical gloves.
Target market
In the GCC countries, there are less than 50 manufacturers of which only two are in Qatar. The compulsory insurance scheme which was recently introduced in the country has increased numerous opportunities for investors in the healthcare sector. Over 90 percent of imports in Qatar are pharmaceutical and medical supplies . Of the 17 million pieces of surgical gloves that the company targets to manufacture during its first year in business, 5 million pieces will be sold locally while another 4 million will be sold in Africa. The remaining 8 million pieces will be sold among the GCC countries.
Discussion
With Qatar paying more attention to quality assurance in its health care system and private investors being allowed to invest in the outpatient healthcare facilities, the health care sector offers vast opportunities for growth. The country enjoys a wealthy demographic that has little confidence in its local health care system. The demand for health care services in the country is on the rise due to the high population growth in the country. The country experiences better health care facilities compared to its GCC counterparts and most of these countries rely on the country for medical supplies as well as other health care services. The large number of immigrants in the country provide businesses in the country with cheap labor, which ensure that the country has adequate and cheap supply of labor.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the surgical gloves manufacturing company will thrive in Qatar due to numerous opportunities and the availability of resources in the country. Qatar is the second wealthiest countries in the world which provides a very conducive environment for foreign investors in the country. Population in the country has gone up three times that of the expansion of the health care facilities causing an increased demand for the health care services. Local health service providers in the country are not well trusted by the Qataris, and as a result, the government is forced to incur heavy medical burdens for overseas treatment for is citizens. The government is looking to attract more foreign investors in the health care industry and the surgical gloves manufacturing company is in line with the country’s vision to assure its citizens of quality in its health care sector. The medical institutions and the low cost of labor from the expatriate citizens will reduce the cost of production to a great extent. Qatar’s medical sector is the best among the GCC sector providing a ready market for the surgical gloves.
References
Business Monitor International. (2016). Qatar. BMI Research .
Goodman, A. (2015). The Development of the Qatar Healthcare System: A Review of the Literature. International Journal of Clinical Medicine , 177-185.
KCC. (2001). Critical Glove Barrier Issues. Kimberly-Clark Health Care Education , 1-12.
