Brazilian Health Devices in MEDICA - Düsseldorf,GE

During November 12-15th, the renowned international event of the medical devices sector MEDICA took place in Düsseldorf, Germany. The Brazilian companies, under the Brazilian Health Devices - ABIMO’s project in partnership with APEX-Brasil - attended the event and the expectation for the next 12 months is US$ 16 million in business development as a result of the trade fair.

There were a total of 50 Brazilian exhibitors at MEDICA and the numbers are impressive: more than 3 thousand new contacts in more than 120 countries. As an instant result, MEDICA provided US$ 2.292 million in new business for the Brazilian companies.

References: http://www.abimo.org.br/modules/news/article.php?article_id=526

Middle East and North Africa: Potential Target Markets

Consisting from Mauritania to Pakistan, from Egypt to Iran, these countries have been making huge efforts in order to increase both level and coverage of healthcare, regulate the sector, making it easier to operate and guarantee quality of products to the patients. Despite financial limitations and/or geopolitical instability, the overall trend is positive and sustainable political breakthroughs. Over the last two years, a continued effort to establish regulatory systems in additional countries is steering confidence in the sector.

The value of the medical devices market in Middle East and North Africa is estimated around US$ 4 billion and it’s growing by 5% per year. This heterogeneous market comprises approximately 650 million people with a cumulative GDP of more than US$ 5.2 trillion.

Mecomed is the Middle East and North Africa medical devices and diagnostics trade association.  Established in March 2007, they aim to build and improve the industry image and perception; help in substantially reducing non-compliant business practices; enhance access to key stakeholders; collaborate in critical projects with common interests. For more details, visit www.menamedtechforum.com.

References: http://medtechviews.eu/article/middle-east-and-north-africa-markets-hold-huge-potential-medical-technology-industry

Brazilian Medical Industry Grows More than Expected

As opposed to what is likely to happen with most of the sectors, the Brazilian medical industry will grow more than initially proposed. Abimed (Brazilian Association of Medical Devices, Products and Supplies) corrected the estimated growth of this year, from 8% to 10%.

“The healthcare sector growth tends always to be higher than the GDP’s, since the population is aging and technologies brings innovations”, says Carlos Goulart, Abimed’s President.

Other statistics are also optimistics. The industry sales grew by 9.3%; the production by 5.7% and jobs creation grew by 3,7% during the period January - August/2014, when compared to the same period of 2013.

References: http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/colunas/mercadoaberto/2014/10/1536106-industria-medica-avanca-mais-do-que-o-esperado.shtml

Digital Health Funding is Accelerating beyond that of Traditional Healthcare

During USC's 2014 Body Computing Conference, experts agreed that digital health funding is accelerating beyond that of traditional healthcare. According to Rock Health (a company that provides startups with funding and full-service support), digital health is one of the fastest growing niches overall in venture funding today and is attracting investors from several different areas. Unexpectedly, it is surpassing medical devices in aggregate funding.

Casper de Clercq, a partner at Norwest Venture Partners, a leading investor in medical device firms, pointed to a trend in data collection. “There are other industries that are way ahead. Walmart, Target, Amazon, and Google know way more about our healthcare and our health situation than probably most of our providers do.” He mentioned the famous case of a Target store discovering that a customer was pregnant simply by monitoring her buying habits.   

Malay Gandhi, managing director of seed fund Rock Health, stated that large medical device companies are transforming their business models from a pure hardware business into a services business. “Technology enabled services in this category, where the medical device becomes a data acquisition mechanism, and you have software, analytics, and a services or patient management platform is really the future of medical devices.”

References: http://www.mddionline.com/article/venture-investment-digital-health-surpasses-medical-devices-141006

Risk and Challenges of Healthcare Systems Internationalization

Medical device manufacturers have identified “emerging markets” as their principal source of revenue growth in the coming years. However, during the last Economist’s Health Forum in Boston, major academics and industry’s players discussed the risks and challenges associated with rising demands in these countries.

The discussion explored a growing concern that the healthcare model in the United States and Europe isn’t sustainable or even necessary to meet the healthcare needs in many cultures. These nations will need to create a “more of an outpatient-oriented and prevention-oriented delivery system” that will require behavioral changes by physicians and patients.

“(...) replicating a hospital-based system in less-developed nations requires not only new infrastructure, but wholesale change in the behavior and practice of patients and physicians. (...) also demand a financial investment that even Western nations are having difficulty paying(...)” Peter Berman, a professor at Harvard University’s School of Public Health

Victor Joseph Dzau, MD, president of the Institute of Medicine brought an academic, clinical, and corporate perspective. He stated that every culture is different and needs specific solutions. “You won’t succeed unless you are really on the ground and really understand the culture”. Device companies must create local solutions to local problems in order to succeed.

References: http://www.mddionline.com/article/%E2%80%98globalization-not-americanization%E2%80%99-when-it-comes-healthcare-09-22-2014

Scenario of the Brazilian Medical Devices Market

MedTechWorld MD&M Brazil 2014, one of the main events of medical devices in Brazil, happened on August 26-27 at Transamérica Expo Center in Sao Paulo. This edition gathered together more than 3,000 professionals and 40 exhibitors.

One of the many interesting presentations was a study, conducted by Dr. Kleber Stelmasuk and Dr. Vitor Asseituno, both from Empreender Saúde, outlining the market scenario of research and development of medical devices in Brazil. The study revealed the strengths and weaknesses to enlarge the exports, increase the contact between university and industry for research and development, and identify what are the proposals to consolidate Brazil as a major global competitor of medical devices and nursing material. It also pointed out the concern about the deficit in the healthcare sector, since the industry doesn’t keep up with the patients’ demand.

References: http://www.empreendersaude.com.br/pesquisa-e-desenvolvimento-de-medical-devices-no-brasil-2014/

2014: So far, a great year for the MedTech Industry in the USA

      According to the MedTech Half-Year Review, issued by EPVantage, 2014 has been telling an optimistic story for the medical device sector.

     Some points of this report have to be mentioned: merger and acquisitions stands at US$27.2 billion, compared to US$19 billion of 2013. The report also notes that the value of M&A in 2013 was close to being the lowest in a decade. More merger and acquisitions are to be announced until the end of 2014/beginning of 2015. During the first six months of 2014, medtech venture capital investments stand at US$1.9 billion, less than half of the US$3.9 billion raised in all of 2013. But second quarter of venture capital investment was up 33% from the first quarter of the year, so the expectations are still high. FDA approvals are also moving very fast. For PMAs, the average review time was 18.4 months compared to the average of 35.9 months in 2013.

References:http://www.mddionline.com/article/5-points-showing-why-medtech-having-great-2014-so-far