GiiResearch.com: Market for Testing and Monitoring Key Diseases in East Africa

Farmington, CT, March 01, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Global Information Inc. (GII) is pleased to announce a new market research report, "The Market for Testing and Monitoring Key Diseases in East Africa."

The high prevalence of infectious diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS and malaria, continues to receive attention from both local governments, as well as donor agencies across East Africa. As the focus shifts to prevention and early diagnosis, lucrative opportunities abound for testing and monitoring of these and other key diseases in the region.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivans new report, "The Market for Testing and Monitoring Key Diseases in East Africa," finds that the market for testing and monitoring HIV, malaria, TB, HPV and diabetes in East Africa was valued at $400.1 million in 2010. The market is estimated to present an opportunity of $715.7 million in 2017. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are the key countries covered in the research.

"Healthcare professionals in the region are more aware of the value added by clinical diagnosis and are more open to the use of diagnostic tools," notes Frost & Sullivans Healthcare Research Analyst Tinotenda Sachikonye. "Government initiatives and disease management policies are emphasizing more accurate diagnosis, particularly as resistance to some medicines increases. They are recommending that diseases, such as malaria, be diagnosed on clinical, rather than symptomatic, evidence."

The treatment of some key diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS and TB, require that medicines be continually monitored for their efficacy. As more people in the region access treatment for these diseases, persistent demand for monitoring services will drive market growth.

However, the shortage of technically skilled personnel to perform laboratory diagnosis, and monitor diseases, presents a serious challenge to market prospects.

Although several donor agencies and multinational companies are involved in training laboratory personnel, shortages continue to prevail, as retention of trained personnel is difficult. As a result, medical laboratories are often understaffed, with many patients being diagnosed based on symptoms, as the processing of laboratory results is time consuming.

"In a market that is not only crucial for the management of diseases, but one that also presents lucrative opportunities, it is important that technical skills are retained," remarks Sachikonye. "It is vital to understand and address the main underlying issues of why trained personnel prefer to leave their countries of origin. Incentives can be offered to technically skilled personnel to keep them in the region."

For more information, visit: http://www.giiresearch.com/report/fs226603-market-testing-monitoring-key-diseases-east-africa.html

Patient Monitoring Market Research: http://www.giiresearch.com/topics/MC08_en.shtml

Medical Device Market Research: http://www.giiresearch.com/medical_device_report.shtml

About Global Information Inc.
Global Information (GII) (http://www.giiresearch.com) is a market research provider with offices in six countries and partnering contracts with over 450 research firms worldwide. Global Information has been in the business of distributing technical and market research for more than 25 years.

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