State-of-the-art technology on display

The global market for medical technology and medical devices is enjoying steady growth, and does not seem to have been affected by the recent economic problems encountered across the globe, with ever more companies contributing their technical know-how to the medical technology market. This has to be good news for visitors to the 2011 MEDICA trade fair and Congress, which is being held in Dusseldorf, Germany, from 16-19 November, as it means that there will be plenty of technology developments and new product innovations on display. The MEDICA event runs in parallel with COMPAMED, a market platform for upstream medical supplies, where a huge array of high-technology solutions for the medcial technology industry are showcased. This year, the event organisers are also excited to be hosting the first European Hospital Conference (EHC) aimed at decision makers from clinics across europe. Programme content for this conference has been coordinated by the European Hospital and Healthcare Federation (HOPE), the European Association of Hospital Managers (EAHM) and European Association of Senior Hospital Physicians (AEMH). This English language conference, which will be held on 18 November in the Congress Centre East (CCD East) will address different political, medical and economical topics from a European perspective, looking at all aspects of the current European healthcare policy as well as what looks set to be an interesting session focusing on the impact that the European Patients’ Rights Directive in cross-border healthcare may have on clinics within the EU. From the UK, Mike Farrar, the recently appointed chief executive of the NHS Confederation, will be contributing to the discussion. The NHS Confederation has worked hard to remove some major concerns from this legislation, which could have had a negative impact on the ability of NHS organisations to manage their finances and resources in the interests of patients, helping to ensure that NHS organisations retain their decision-making powers on what treatments patients can receive abroad. The directive will come into force in 2013, when Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), who currently retain the power to make decisions on cross-border healthcare, will be winding down.

Congress

Unfortunately, the majority of the presentations at Congress, which runs parallel with the exhibition are conducted in German. However, some will be presented in English, including a discussion on mechatronic procedures in surgery. This takes place on 16 November at 11.00 am at the MEDICA Technology Focus, in Hall 11, E70. This seminar will see a selection of professional speakers looking at how mechatronic assistance in the operating theatre could improve precision and quality management. The group will also discuss how the miniaturisation of mechatronic systems can allow more possible indications for surgical procedures. On 17 November, also at 11.00 am and at the same venue there will be a session looking at the latest special concepts in military rescue and disaster medical evacuation. Colonel Lorenz A. Lampl, professor of anaesthesiology at Ulm, will discuss trauma in the military setting and the priorities of prehospital medical care. Lieutenant colonel Bjorn Hossfeld, doctor of medicine at Ulm, will then cover the issue of continuity of respiratory care from the battlefield to ICU. This will be followed by a presentation by Lieutenant colonel Sebastian Hentsch, doctor of medicine at Koblenz, who will discuss the concept of comprehensive damage control. The session will finish with Colonel Thomas Diete, doctor of medicine at Koblenz, who will focus on the issues surrounding intensive care in longhaul medevac. On 18 November at 11.00 am, also at the same venue, there will be a session focusing on intensive care. It will open with a presentation from Hugo Van Aken, professor of anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine at Munster, focusing on the multidisciplinary approach to intensive care. This will be followed by Wolfgan F. Buhre, professor of anaesthesiology at NL/Utrect, who will focus on advances in cardiovascular monitoring. The session will conclude with a discussion on the issues surrounding weaning the critically ill patient from mechanical ventilation.