Turkish firm seeks to cut dependency on imported stent

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - A Turkish company, which produces healthcare devices, is aiming to reduce the country’s dependency on imported stent by manufacturing it in the country.

Leyla Alaton, the president of Alvimedica, told Anadolu Agency Turkey was a big stent importer therefore its prices are very high.

Stent is a little metallic cage used for opening blockages in coronary arteries in order to prevent patients from heart attack.

"We want to transfer technology to Turkey in 2018 and start as soon as possible to export high quality stents substantially," Alaton said.

She underlined that currently prices of imported stents vary from 150 liras [$40] to 7,000 liras [$1,840] in Turkey. "People will reach it for a reasonable price after we produce them in Turkey."

Alaton added that the company also aims to export stents to the U.S. after approval of Food and Drug Administration, the U.S federal agency.

The company also aims to open a hospital in Croatia's southern province of Split in the second half of the year, Alaton said.

"The construction of external part of the hospital building is completed and we are about to start construction within the building itself," she added.

- Cosmetic surgery

Alaton said the hospital will serve especially in the field of cosmetic surgery along with other medical areas.

Split is a suitable location for the company as the city attracts around 10 million tourists in a year and does not have not any private hospital, she said.

She stated the patients which can not be treated in the hospital will be transferred to Turkey; hence, contributing to the country's portfolio.

Supporting women participation at business life, Alaton said more than half of Alvimedica's employees are women due to nature of business.

"There is a great hand-workmanship in stent production and especially women are good at it,"Alaton said.

"Women, who earn their own money, feel more empowered and have equal say in their families," Alaton said and added this was the key for a gender equal society.

Underlying that achieving economic independence make them empowered, Alaton said: "Financially independent women are good role models for their children and for their families [...]."

Alvimedica, established in 2007, manufactures integrated circuit products for endovascular and interventional cardiology.

The company has two manufacturing facilities in Turkey and Italy, and exports its products to more than 70 countries worldwide.