Demography & Weather:
France is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is often referred to as L’Hexagone ("The Hexagon") because of the geometric shape of its territory. The weather in France varies wildly from city to city. Paris can have downright chilly days, even in July, while Nice can be balmy in the middle of winter. The Mediterranean beaches are close to the Alps and Pyrenees, and the climates in coast versus mountains is quite different.

Medical Device Market in France:
France is the fourth largest medical device market in the world, ranking behind the USA, Japan and Germany. The French medical device market is increasingly supplied by the foreign sales subsidiaries of multinational companies, several of which manufacture within France having bought up smaller indigenous firms. Many distributors are also involved in re-exporting to French-speaking Africa.

According to an Espicom report, the medical device imports in France reached US$8.1 billion in 2006, although not all imported products are destined for the domestic market. In recent years, imports have grown at a faster rate than the overall market; due partly to a rise in re-exports in certain sectors, most notably pacemakers. It is estimated in the report that the medical market in France is likely to see moderate growth, rising from US$7.52 billion in 2007 to US$9.75 billion by 2012.

The best prospects for medical equipment include newly developed areas such as non-invasive surgery, orthopedics, and disposable medical equipment. Healthcare professionals are highly optimistic about new technologies such as telemedicine, which is expected to have a major impact on medical care institutions.