MEDIPHAR TPE'08 wraps up great success

Nov 11, 2008

Buyers marvel at Taiwan's quality medical products

November 11, 2008 - MEDIPHAR TAIPEI 2008, which is organized by TAITRA (Taiwan External Trade Development Council) and Formosan Medical Association (FMA), wrapped up a great success on Nov. 9 at TWTC Exhibition Hall. That's where 266 leading domestic and international manufacturers used 541 booths to showcase their latest products. The show attracted more than 50 thousand visitors including local and foreign buyers, and consumers to participate during the four exhibition days.

This show fielded a record 700 buyers from 52 countries in spite of economic slowdown. That 3% increase in buyer turn-out represents the resiliency of this sector that just continues to expand. Buyers mainly came from China (28.3%), Japan (12.1%), Hong Kong (8.6%), the U.S. (7.7%), and Singapore (3.8%). Many buyers represented world-famous medical companies, including ARTSANA SPA Group, Italy’s largest producer/distributor of medical equipment and pharmaceutical products, AS ONE CORPORATION, Japanese medical/care-taking supplies trading company, UNIPATH, British medical testing equipment company, ACCURAY INC., a leading US surgical and medical instrument vendor.

Medical Service Area:Displaying Taiwan’s World-class Medical Strengths

In the Medical Service Area, which premiered at this year’s event, 15 renowned domestic healthcare facilities, including Mackay Memorial Hospital, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei Medical University Hospital, and Chang Chung Memorial Hospital, demonstrated their high quality technology, advanced equipment, comprehensive services, and affordable cost particularly for world-class physical examinations, medical cosmetics, and special medical cares.  Meanwhile, TAITRA also set up the “Taiwan International Medical Service Pavilion” at the Medical Service Area to help promote medical tourism services provided by 19 healthcare facilities, which had attracted the visits of many local and foreign firms. 

Many group visitors from Hong Kong and China showed great interest in Taiwan’s medical services at the show. Hong Kong’s Instant Travel Serve Limited was very impressed with the medical travel and cosmetic center of Wan Fang Medical Center and Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, and stated that the diverse and comprehensive packages offered by its participants would be very attractive to its customers from Hong Kong and China. Those at Hong Kong’s Silver Cross Medical Group and one participating hospital at the show were highly upbeat on the prospects for mutual cooperation for international patient referrals. Moreover, Chih-Jung Sing, General Manager of Beijing’s Wen Han Lin Medical Equipment Limited immediately reserved a premium medical travel schedule at the showfloor and said that Taiwan is well-known for its excellent medical technology and service qualities.

Product innovation pioneers new markets

In order to encourage innovation capabilities and international competitiveness of local medical manufacturers, organizers once again held the selection of innovation products at MEDIPHAR TAIPEI. This year, 8 products were honored with “Innovation Awards” at a ceremony that attracted special attentions from international buyers. And the winners are . . . 

1.  “A1C Express” of APEX BIOTECHNOLOGY CORP

2.  “XT Series Continuous Positive Airway Pressure System” of Apex Medical Corp.

3.  “LCD Display Mercury-Free Sphygmomanometer” of (SPIRIT®) CHIN KOU MEDICAL INSTRUMENT CO., LTD 

4.   “Wheelchair 3D ergonomic backrest assistant equipment” of Movention Corporation  

5.   “Footdisc performance insole” of Global Action Inc. 

6    “eN-Lac Plus Capsules” of GenMont Biotech Incorporation

7    “Autot-carebed” of Goldenmast ltd 

8.   “Rightest GM100 series” of BIONIME CORPORATION 

A showcase of diverse and quality products

With a full menu of innovative products displayed at MEDIPHAR TAIPEI, buyers were deeply impressed by the rich developments across Taiwan’s medical industry. In addition to launching new blood glucose and pressure meters with voice reporting functions, TaiDoc Technology has also integrated wireless communication and information technologies to create a remote healthcare system. 

Air Base Co., Ltd., which exhibited at the show for the first time, demonstrated their self-developed Portable Lifts, which can help to load and upload wheelchairs into cars with different height levels. And wonders behold! The Stair Climber can move wheelchair riders up and down stair with and without their wheelchairs. Pihsiang Machinery MGF. Co., the leading supplier of scooters and power wheelchairs, displayed their new four-wheeled scooter weighing in at only 35kg that can be moved by both manual and electric power. With folding design for easy storage and portability, both products offer the advantages of compactness and reliability.

Other popular products showcased were: compact positive airway pressure systems for reducing insomnia and snoring, a nebulizer and oxygen concentrator for respiratory therapy, powered patient rotation beds with full function remote control, learning aids system for the communication challenged, adjustable book holders and wheelchair readers, living assistive devices for the disabled and aging, and much more. All these various medical devices and equipments were displayed at this year’s MEDIPHAR TAIPEI, which can best meet the buyers’ one-stop shopping needs.

International buyers’ give high marks 

To expand export opportunities for exhibitors, the organizers hosted 117 procurement meetings and successfully invited 16 important potential buyers and 40 exhibitors to participate. Procurement items included pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, rehabilitation equipment, and health & beauty care products; all of which offered huge business opportunities.

Alop Matto of OneMed Group in Sweden stated that it was the second time he visited the show. He would like to build up long-term relationship with more Taiwan suppliers and was very impressed with Taiwan’s strengths in electrical medical products. Nicola Manzoni of Italy’s GIMA SPA said that good quality and effective cost are the biggest advantages of Taiwan’s medical products. Luis A. Velasques Q. of Asinfargua in Guatemala visited Taiwan for the first time and particularly admired the efforts that TAITRA made in inviting foreign buyers to attend the procurement meeting at MEDIPHAR TAIPEI. He is gradually shifting his purchasing focus to Asia and Taiwan in the future. Many international buyers also indicated that they will be back at next year’s show.

Seminars pave way for new prospects

During the show, TAITRA and FMA arranged more than 70 speeches and seminars that paved the way for many market opportunities. At the “Discover the Trends and Grasp the New Opportunities in Taiwan’s Medical Tourism” seminar, which was held on the first day, organizers specially invited Mr. Samuel Tan, Corporate Marketing Assistant Vice President of Singapore’s most well-known Parkway Group Healthcare Pte Ltd., and Mr. Md Bilal, Managing Director of India Chennai Meditours Pte Ltd. to give speeches on the topics of “Creating Patient Value for Medical Tourism” and “Marketing Strategies and Perspectives in India’s Medical Tourism”. The two speeches aimed at exploring the challenges and opportunities for Asian countries to promote medical travel services and attracted nearly 200 attendants.

Meanwhile, to better focus upon the assistive device industry and elderly market opportunities that Taiwan is eager develop, the organizers also held “Assistive Device Industry Development Tactics Forums” and invited Mr. OUE Izumi, CEO of Japan Osaka ATC Ageless Center, to speak on “Trends and Business Opportunities of the Elderly Market in Japan”. The two events offered valuable contents for local industries and aroused enthusiastic discussion. Also, on Nov. 8th and 9th, 4 popular Dr. Health Talks workshops were held to discuss important issues of everyone’s concern, including how to maintain good bones, eyesight, teeth, and achieve healthy weight loss, and these talks  attracted large turn outs. 

SOURCE: TAITRA News

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