Find out what's on at Medica 2018

Digital technologies and software are set to be big topics at this year’s Medica, even as progress for medical technology varies across European markets.

Writing in advance of the event, Horst Giesen, global portfolio director Health & Medical Technologies of Messe Düsseldorf, discusses how it is imperative that the medtech market remains ‘at the cutting edge of progress.’

Giesen highlights the state of the European market, remarking that countries such as Spain, Ireland and Romania have seen sales for medical technology increase whilst others like Germany, Italy and France have seen slower progress. Austerity has been a large instigator of hindering progress within healthcare systems and Brexit is marked as being another obstacle for the European and UK markets.

As the primary force shaping the health economy and radically changing processes and business models worldwide, digital transformation will be a large feature at Medica.

The Medica Health IT Forum and Medica Connected Healthcare Forum, not to mention the Medica App Competition are expected to be some of the most attended platforms at the show this year. Discussions, presentations and speeches will be focused on essential digitisation and IT trends, including opportunities to implement artificial intelligence, big data analysis or cyber security measures. More so, products and technology such as wearables, telehealth and robotics will be presented by numerous exhibitors.

The show’s organiser expects that the theme of “patient empowerment” will be especially significant this year.

In Germany, this is being represented by applications for electronic patient files for use on smartphones and around the world app developers are especially focussed on health applications.

Medica will feature discussion that intend to provide an answer to the question of how available the service providers in the health industry will make these types of digital solutions to patients. Aspects which are linked to this, such as the new HL7 FHIR - the standard for mobile communication in healthcare, or the economy platform’s attack on healthcare data, will thus be dealt with in the Medica Health IT Forum.

A topic on everyone’s mind is how artificial intelligence (AI) is set to transform healthcare. Exhibitors at Medica are aiming to refute any fears that AI models of care will replace doctors and healthcare staff. Things such as diagnostic imaging in which AI ensures that the radiation zone in CT scans can be delimited optimally, are examples of how the technology is being used alongside healthcare staff. More so, the availability of AI to automate care cases means that healthcare staff can concentrate on following up abnormalities and more complex cases.

Last year, the launch of the Medica Start-Up Park was met with approval from visitors and has now been made a firm fixture of the show. Young companies can present their ideas, primarily those for the digital health sector, and meet potential business partners.

Practical information of medical devices and updates on general medical diagnostics will be features at the Medica Academy, following its premier last year.

Other program highlights at Medica 2018 include the DiMiMED conference for disaster and military medicine and the Medica Medicine + Sports Conference (respectively on 13 and 14 November 2018 / Congress Center Düsseldorf South) that will be focusing on prevention and sports medical treatment concepts.