Health firms hope for shot in arm at Dubai exhibition

The 39 firms, including Sheffield-based Sheffmed, Inditherm, of Rotherham, and Elland-based Drive Medical, will help promote the region’s global reputation as a hub for innovation in healthcare and life sciences as Arab Health 2013 starts today at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The Yorkshire delegation will look for export opportunities and showcase their products and technologies as part of a wider UK delegation of more than 200 companies.

Medilink Yorkshire and Humber, the organisation dedicated to the growth of the healthcare technologies sector, will host the Yorkshire firms at a special pavilion at the exhibition with support from the Government department for international trade, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).

Medilink said that difficult EU economy means the Middle East is increasingly attractive as a key market for UK companies. The exhibition is expected to attract more than 70,000 healthcare professionals, giving Yorkshire companies a good platform to demonstrate the calibre of the region on an international stage.

The Middle East’s healthcare sector is worth over £50bn and is growing by 16 per cent a year.

Charlotte Fraser, regional sector specialist for UKTI & international manager at Medilink Yorkshire and Humber, said: “The Yorkshire region has built a reputation for developing high-quality products which combine cutting-edge design and advanced technologies.

“This has allowed companies from our region to establish strong business relationships with countries from across the Middle East.”

She said these countries are now investing much more heavily to reform their healthcare systems.

This has resulted in increased demand for the latest medical advancements and technologies, which is creating export opportunities for healthcare companies from Yorkshire.

“A good example of this increased demand for expertise from our region is the recent announcement of a historic agreement between Sheffield Hallam University and the Kuwaiti ministry of health, which could see nursing leaders from Kuwait being trained at the university,” she added.

Sheffmed will unveil its new head light and HD video system, a lightweight head-light system with a mounted micro HD camera, at the exhibition.