Focus on global health innovation

This year, the medical technology trade fair, MEDICA, will take place on new show days – from Monday 16 November to Thursday 19 November 2015, providing a showcase for international innovation in medical equipment and the latest developments in healthcare.

The MEDICA trade fair has been taking place in Düsseldorf for more than 40 years. It is the world’s leading trade fair in the medical technology sector and attracts a large international audience who come to view the global innovations and vast array of new products that are on display during the four days. Educational conferences and symposiums will also be held throughout the event with the aim of promoting medical knowledge and the international exchange of ideas. Joachim Schäfer, managing director of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH (organiser of the trade show, MEDICA), is optimistic about the growth of the medical technologies market. He points out that market intelligence reports predict that expenditure on health will continue to increase, driven by changing demographics, an overall rise in health awareness, as well as an increase in ‘diseases of prosperity’ – even in numerous emerging nations.

For example, the consulting company, Deloitte, projects that medical technology sales will rise from around 330 billion euros to around 470 billion euros in 2020 (Healthcare and Life Sciences Predictions 2020). It also states, in its 2015 Global healthcare sector outlook report, that growing populations and consumer wealth are increasing demand for healthcare services but ageing societies and chronic diseases are forcing health providers to make difficult decisions on benefit levels. Providers are also facing competing priorities in terms of meeting the increasing demand for healthcare services, while reducing the rising cost of those services.