Argentina Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in argentina, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
Select Country Guide
Medical Products
Last published date:

Healthcare expenditures in Argentina traditionally account for approximately 9 to 10 percent of GDP, among the highest in the region. However, the current administration’s focus on fiscal austerity measures may result in cuts to the public healthcare budget.  

The Argentine medical equipment and device market mostly relies on imports, which account for around 80 percent of the total market. According to industry sources*, imports of medical devices amounted to approximately $750 million between June 2023 to June 2024. The total market for medical devices was approximately $902 million in 2023. For this report, medical devices include consumables, diagnostic imaging, dental, orthopedics and implants, patient aids, and other devices.

Imports grew consistently after COVID-19 and may continue to grow beyond 2024 with a projected economic recovery throughout 2025.

The United States is traditionally a leading supplier of imported medical products, with an import market share of 18 percent in 2023, second to China, with a 24 percent market share. The U.S. leads in market share for high-end technology products, while China leads in standard products.

Leading Sub-Sectors

The U.S. is a leading supplier of suturing materials, imaging parts and accessories, orthopedic prosthetics, and patient aids. Potential also exists for stents, cardiac valves, pacemakers, and other specialized disposables.

Opportunities

The Argentine government, with international loans from multilateral development banks, will continue to provide funding to support government programs particularly concentrated on primary care, maternal care, communicable and immuno-preventable diseases, and healthcare infrastructure under a national universal healthcare coverage plan. This plan emphasizes efficiency, accessibility, and modernization through e-health technologies.

Medical products and technology developed and produced in the United States are highly regarded in Argentina. This is particularly relevant for U.S. exporters that offer high-quality products at competitive prices. In this competitive market, much of the demand for mass-market technologies is already being met.

All imports of medical products need to be carried out by an appointed registered medical equipment importer, with the Argentine food, drug, and medical equipment regulatory agency, ANMAT, the Argentine equivalent of the FDA. Companies should partner with a local company to participate in procurement tenders.

Resources

National Administration of Medicine, Food, and Medical Technology - ANMAT (Spanish)

* Source: Argentine Chamber of Medical Technology - CADIEM (Spanish)

For additional information on this industry, including market analysis, trade events, contacts, and the products and services that the U.S. Commercial Service can provide to help you succeed in the Argentine market, please contact our Healthcare Industry Specialist Liliana Paz

×

Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

Privacy Program | Information Quality Guidelines | Accessibility