Mission Statement
Healthcare Technologies
 Trade Mission
United Kingdom

November 18-19, 2004

Mission Description:

The International Trade Administration of U.S. Department of Commerce, Commercial Service in the United Kingdom is organizing a Healthcare Technologies Trade Mission to the United Kingdom November 18-19, 2004.   The Trade Mission will target the healthcare technologies industries.   The focus of the Mission will be to match participating U.S. companies with qualified agents, distributors, representatives, licensees, and joint venture partners in these markets.   The Mission is aimed at healthcare technology companies interested in entering the United Kingdom market and learning more about opportunities brought about by the reforms of the United Kingdom healthcare market.   The timing is designed for the convenience of those companies planning on participating in Medica (November 24-27, 2004) in Dusseldorf, Germany.  

Commercial Setting:

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom (UK) has a medical equipment market is valued at $3.5 billion, making it the 5 th largest market in the world, and the 3rd largest market in Europe.   The United States is the UK’s largest import supplier, with U.S. products accounting for close to one quarter of the domestic market.

While much of the healthcare industry is handled by the public sector, there has recently been a shift towards private provision of care, which provides increased opportunities for investment.   The National Health Service (NHS), the United Kingdom’s public health organization, is currently undergoing substantial reform and has increased its budget by 35 percent through 2005 in order to pay for improvements including telemedicine-related initiatives.

Telemedicine, referring to the incorporation of traditional medical equipment and practices with information and telecommunication technologies, is a major initiative in the United Kingdom.   The NHS has pledged that it will have the most up-to-date information technology systems to ensure that patients get the best service.   The NHS   has promised telemedicine facilities for all local health services, electronic booking of appointments, access to electronic medical records, and electronic prescriptions by 2005.   A number of pilot telemedicine trials have been implemented, and there are more than 100 projects currently being explored.  

Mission Goals:  

The Trade Mission’s goal is to gain first-hand market information and provide access to key government officials and potential business partners for new-to-market, and/or new-to-export U.S. healthcare technologies firms desiring to enter this promising market. 

Mission Scenario:

The trade mission will consist of a two-day event.   The Commercial Service will provide a market briefing highlighting opportunities in the healthcare technologies sector, schedule one-on-one appointments with potential business partners for each participant, and arrange site visits to appropriate healthcare facilities, such as National Health Service hospital.  

Tentative Timetable:          

Criteria for Participation:

Relevance of the company's business line to the Mission scope and goals

• Potential for business in the selected markets
• Timeliness of the company's completed application, participation agreement, and payment of the mission participation fee
• Provision of adequate information on the company's products and/or services and communication of the company's primary objectives to facilitate appropriate matching with potential business partners
• Certification that the company's products and/or services are manufactured or produced in the United States or if manufactured/produced outside of the United States, the product/service must be marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have U.S. content representing at least 51% of the value of the finished good or service.

The Mission will be promoted through the following venues: The Commercial Service, United Kingdom, the Export Assistance Centers and Teams; the Federal Register; relevant trade publications; relevant trade associations; past Commerce trade mission participants; various in-house and purchased industry lists, and on the Commerce Department trade missions calendar - www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html - and other Internet websites.

Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection process. The participation fee will be $1,050 for the trade mission.   Participation fees do not include the cost of travel and lodging.   Participation is open to the first 10 qualified U.S. companies.   Recruitment will begin immediately and will close on October 8, 2004.   Applications received after that date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Contact Information:

Tatiana Russo
U.S. Commercial Service
American Embassy
24 Grosvenor Square
London W1A 1AE
UK
Tel: +44 20 7408 8043
Fax: +44 20 7408 8020
E-mail:tatiana.russo@mail.doc.gov

U.S. Contact     Kim Hilliard
                        Dept. of Commerce
                        14 th & Constitution Ave. NW
                        Washington, DC   20230
                        Tel: 202-482-2902
                        Fax: 202-482-3159
                        Email: Kim.Hilliard@mail.doc.gov