On its sixth edition, Medical Fair Thailand, which is being held 12-14 September , has opened at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC), showcasing an array of medical and healthcare products and services from 400 of the industry’s best suppliers from 30 countries, and with an estimated 6000 trade and professional visitors participating over the three-day event. According to its organiser, Messe Düsseldorf Asia, this year’s show is the largest edition to date its inception in 2003.

The show was officially opened by guest-of-honour, His Excellency Dr Anan Ariyachaipanich, Second Vice-President, The Senate, Kingdom of Thailand.

In his speech, Dr Ariyachaipanich highlighted that Medical Fair Thailand is promoting the country as a “Medical Hub” or centre of medical and healthcare development. He said that the trade fair also provides a stepping stone for Thailand’s medical professionals as they prepare for regional integration under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.

For this year’s event, an estimated 90% of exhibiting companies are from overseas; with twelve national pavilions and country groups from Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the UK comprising a majority of the participants.

France’s first national pavilion at the exhibition has debut with seven companies, which showcased their latest products and services in the healthcare and medical technology.

Gernot Ringling, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf Asia, said, “Medical Fair Thailand comes at a time when the medical and healthcare industry has been earmarked as a high priority sector to be integrated across the region. This is evident from the 30% growth in the trade exhibition this year. Over the years we have seen increasing participation from Southeast Asia as well as an impressive involvement particularly from Europe and North Asia. We will endeavour to connect medical and health care professionals from Thailand and Southeast Asia with global industry innovations and to showcase quality medical technologies that are relevant to Southeast Asia’s growing medical and healthcare sector.”

Boost from the Southeast Asian market

Thailand’s healthcare market is one of the fastest growing regional markets for medical and health care investments, and is well poised to benefit from Southeast Asia’s rapidly growing medical tourism sector with an annual growth rate of 16% per annum and a projected US$100 billion baht in foreign medical services such as hospital infrastructure and upgrading initiatives for the medical-imaging market by 2015.

An integral part of Medical Fair Thailand is focused on hospital, diagnostic, pharmaceutical, medical and rehabilitation equipment and supplies, with a significant increase in exhibitors from accident and emergency equipment, diagnostics, electromedical equipment and medical technology, medical furniture and equipment, medical consumables and diagnostics sectors. Making up more than 75% of the exhibitor base at the trade exhibition, these companies will showcase the latest products, services and cost-effective solutions with many conducting live demonstrations and interactive onsite activities.

Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, President, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), said, “There is no doubt that Medical Fair Thailand is an internationally recognised trade fair that is able to attract a highly targeted and quality audience and a strong business platform for Thai medical and healthcare companies to seek commercial opportunities, learn best industry practices, and to find out what is driving medical advancement in terms of quality and cost-effective patient care.” He added that the encouraging line-up international participation over the years is evident from the global reach that the event now has and its draw as a “must-attend event” for Thai and regional companies in these sectors.

“TCEB as a government agency, is proud to fully support Medical Fair Thailand once again, particularly through our incentive and buyer appreciation programmes namely ‘100 A-HEAD’ campaign and Be My Guest. Under these programmes,

ARTeC highlights relevant industry topics

ARTeC 2013, a multidisciplinary conference focused exclusively on rehabilitation technology and emerging trends in physical and rehabilitation medicine also debuted on the show. Jointly organised together with the Royal College of Physiatrists of Thailand and Thai Rehabilitation Medicine Association, The two-day ARTeC, has brought together junior and experienced physiatrists, physicians, physical therapists as well as professionals involved in the field of medical rehabilitation through a series of lectures and workshops by distinguished speakers from Thailand, Taiwan, and Germany. Delivering the keynote speech on emerging trends in physical and rehabilitation medicine at ARTeC 2013 is Professor Marta Imamura, President of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM).

The conference highlights included musculoskeletal ultrasound, segmental neuromyotherapy, robotics and brain stimulation technology in neurological rehabilitation, and advanced management of stroke patients with swallowing difficulties, and clinical management of swallowing disorders.

Meanwhile, Hospital Management Asia 2013, has presented a series of “how to” tools and thought-leading topics for senior executives, through a combination of plenary sessions, workshops and demonstrations on the latest hospital management best practices.

Some 1000 delegates participated in this regional conference, which has been held concurrently with Medical Fair Thailand.

source:MJNnews