Ausgabe zur MEDICA - COMPAMED 2018

5 Ausg.Nr._23/2018 MEDICA 2018 + COMPAMED 2018 W hen top decision- makers in the health- care business meet in Düsseldorf in the middle of November at the world's leading medical trade fair, MEDICA 2018, (they will once again be greeted by over 5,000 exhibitors from almost 70 countries, as consist- ent partners who are enthusiastic about innovation and offer tai- lored solutions for outpatient and clinical care. Digital transforma- tion remains at the top of every- one’s list this year. It is shaping the health economy worldwide and changes both processes and business models alike. This prevailing trend will not only be represented by exhibitor inno- vations at the MEDICA, but is also reflected in the programmes of the accompanying conferences and forums. These conferences and fo- rums include the MEDICA HEALTH IT FORUM (on IT topics such as big data, artificial intelligence and cyber security), the MEDICA CONNECTED HEALTHCARE FORUM (hardware and software solutions for connected healthcare) and the MEDICA MEDICINE & SPORTS CON- FERENCE, held entirely in English, which takes a look at the use of ap- plications which are used in close proximity to the body and weara- bles for monitoring vital signs. “Regardless of the progress achieved by digital medicine: The main focus in care is and always will be on human beings. How- ever, the doctor’s evaluation re- mains authoritative,” says Horst Giesen, Global Portfolio Director for Health & Medical Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf, outlining an example of the ideal interplay be- tween humans and machines. Creative start ups provide stimuli Many innovative young companies are taking up the global digitalisa- tion trend in the healthcare sector. Many of them will be present at MEDICA, for example at the MED- ICA START-UP PARK. In parallel, a fine selection of company founders will present their latest ideas in the MEDICA CONNECTED HEALTHCARE FORUM sessions (which all take place in Hall 15). A significant strength of the MEDICA is that it not only presents solutions for individual medical specialist disciplines in one place over a few days, but also takes on the complete workflow of patient treatment. The individual focal points are clearly structured ac- cording to hall and include: Elec- tromedicine / medical technology (approx. 2,500 exhibitors), labora- tory technology/diagnostics, phys- iotherapy/orthopaedic technology, commodities and consumables, information and communication technology, medical furniture and specialist furnishings for hospitals and practices. This year, once more in parallel to the MEDICA, COMPAMED will take place for the 27th time with approx. 800 exhibitors (Halls 8a and 8b). A while ago, the items presented here would have gen- erally included simple parts, components and equipment for technical devices and medical products, but today, COMPAMED is a hotspot for complex high-tech solutions. Over the previous years, MEDICA and COMPAMED have regularly received between 120,000 and 130,000 visitors between them annually, with around 60% of these visitors coming from out- side Germany. This year, the Ger- man Federal Minister of Health, Jens Spahn, will be among the visitors. On November 12, he will open MEDICA 2018 and the 41st German Hospital Conference, which takes place in parallel.  Text & Image: Messe Düsseldorf GmbH Stockumer Kirchstraße 61 D-40474 Düsseldorf MEDICA 2018 + COMPAMED 2018 Digital medicine and its added value for patients and doctors take centre stage 12.–15.11.2018