German Chancellor Merkel to Open MEDICA 2010

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the German Health Minister Philipp Rösler will officially open the upcoming MEDICA 2010, World Forum for Medicine - International Trade Fair and Congress and COMPAMED 2010, International Trade Fair – High Tech Solutions for Medical Technology, in Düsseldorf, Germany.

In time for MEDICA 2010 (November 17 - 20, 2010), the news from the medical technology sector is encouraging, as after a slight downturn in sales in 2009, the various industry associations are expecting growth of about 10%, topping EUR 20 billion for their member companies by the end of the year. Compared with last year's staging, an increase in exhibitor registrations for MEDICA 2010 has been recorded - another sign of greater optimism among suppliers and exhibitors for next week's event. About 111,484 square meters of exhibit space has been booked by about 4,400 exhibitors from over 60 nations.

"There are several reasons why the medical technology industry has survived the worldwide financial and economic crisis relatively unscathed. One important reason for the positive development can be seen in a range of governmental investment programs, designed to support demand and improve infrastructures,” stated Joachim Schäfer, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf.

Experts believe that the German government's Economic Package No. II and other governmental funding programs have led to German hospitals spending over EUR 3 billion on modernization. Elsewhere, in other important medical technology markets, such as France and Russia, there have been similar hospital-equipment upgrade measures.

Exhibitor registration figures for COMPAMED 2010 are also excellent. From November 17 - 19, 2010, over 560 exhibitors from 37 nations will display innovative solutions and services for the medical manufacturing supplier market. With a total exhibition space of 10,294 square meters, bookings rose by approximately 10% compared with 2009, thus marking a new record for the event.

MEDICA 2010 will present everything required for day-to-day treatments at physicians' offices and hospitals – ranging from electromedical and general equipment, lab and diagnostic equipment to physiotherapy and orthopedic apparatus and medical IT. The exhibits will be supported by several well-established theme parks, such as MEDICA MEDIA (telemedicine and medical IT), MEDICA VISION (the Innovation Forum for Research Institutions) and MEDICA PHYSIO.

The MEDICA Congress will also include seminars about cancer, cardiovascular and age-related diseases, as well as practical training and professional development courses, for example in sonography, emergency medicine, and endoscopy. In order to link the trade fair and the congress closer, a range of seminars will be held in English for the first time. In addition, although MEDICA 2010 exclusively targets medical professionals, it also has much to offer to those with a general interest in medicine. For example, five information events are offered for this target group free of charge.

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