New Programming Awaits Medica Attendees

Organizers of the world’s largest medical trade fair are making final preparations for this year’s event, slated to be one of the most well-attended in recent memory. More than 4,600 exhibitors from 66 countries are participating in Medica 2013, a 1 percent increase compared with 2012, and 681 exhibitors will showcase their products and services at Compamed, a 6 percent year-over-year hike. The Compamed show (taking place simultaneously with Medica in Düsseldorf, Germany) will cover all aspects of the medtech supply chain.

There will be no lacking in choices at either event – Medica’s organizers have revamped the fair’s conference platform, adding three new specialized programs designed to expand the convention’s international reach. And two forums at Compamed will spotlight supplier trends in the medical technology sector.

Medical Product Outsourcing spoke with Joachim Schäfer, Messe Dusseldorf managing director, about the conference and its new features this year. Detailed information about attendance, pricing, travel and more is available at www.medica-tradefair.com and www.compamed-tradefair.com.

Medical Product Outsourcing: What new conference programming has been added to Medica this year and why did the conference organizers add these programs?

Joachim Schäefer: Even though Medica looks back on a history of more than 40 years of successful events and takes place every year, Medica one year is never the same as Medica the following year. Product ranges in the trade fair and the accompanying congresses are continually revised and adapted to visitors’ changed requirements. It is only in this way that the right target groups can be attracted for the exhibitors. Once again, for Medica 2013, which will take place from Nov. 20 – 23, 2013 in Düsseldorf, Germany, numerous ideas will be put “into action”. For example, Medica’s congress program is being repositioned. The further development of the congress program allows for a sharper subject profile, an even closer link to the Medica trade fair topics and the development of the international part of the program. This is why it has been renamed “Medica Conferences & Forums”. The program focus areas have been defined by a panel consisting of renowned experts. With the title Medica Education Conference, courses with high levels of participation in previous years form the basis of the focal areas, for example, on general medical topics including practical courses using the devices, which remain certified with CME points for continuous medical education. In addition there are seminars on interdisciplinary topics, which are highly relevant across disciplines such as emergency medicine, gender-specific and personalized medicine.

The English-language program components include a series of talks on current issues with regard to individualized medicine, an international conference on disaster and military medicine, and a premium event for the international sports medicine specialist field. This conference will cover topics ranging from preventative approaches in sports medicine to therapeutic measures, taking into account the use of modern electromedical devices.

Along with Medica 2013, the Medica Medicine + Sports Conference will be held for the first time at the Congress Center Düsseldorf on Nov. 21. This conference, which is held in English, is dedicated to the thematic intersection between sports and medicine built on the basis of three foundations, namely prevention, therapy (excluding surgery) and recovery. The lectures and discussions will shed light on research findings, trends and technology from various perspectives. In addition to the preventive effect of sports on various illnesses, strategic improvement of training results while at the same time preventing injuries will be the main focus of the conference. Further topics will comprise measures to increase strength, as well as prevent surgical interventions including the latest methods from the field of Tradition Chinese Medicine (TCM).

The 1st International Conference on Disaster and Military Medicine (DiMiMED) will also celebrate its premier during Medica 2013. Organized by the Beta Group under the auspices of the Medical Corps International Forum (MCIF), this conference targets experts from all over the world (about 50 high-ranking military medical and public health professionals and 40 industrial partners) from related scientific institutes, organizations and companies involved with Emergency, Disaster and Military Medicine & Medical Devices.


MPO: How did organizers determine the type of new programming to add (e.g., personalized medicine, disaster and military medicine)? Will these programs be part of the conference schedule from now on?

JS: The thematic design of the ancillary program Medica (conferences and forums) is planned in close cooperation with Medica advisory board as well as with a top-class, specialist body. Starting in 2014, content planning will specifically include the Medica Education Conference as well as our new cooperation partner – the German Society for Internal Medicine (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Innere Medizin – DGIM). The DGIM is one of the largest and highly renowned specialist medical associations in Germany.

MPO: What factors influenced your decision to bring back the Joint European Hospital Conference? How important is this to attendees?

JS: Since its start in 2011 the Joint European Hospital Conference has been an event planned to be held every two years. To keep with this schedule means that it will run as planned once again this year. This time the focus lies on the European Patient’s Rights Directive as well as on liability matters in connection with treatment errors.

MPO: What do you think is the most notable difference about this year’s event compared to years past?
JS: The comprehensive relaunch of the conference program along with a considerable widening of the international program are certainly the most important changes at Medica this year. All this means noticeably more added value for our visitors.

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Attending the Shows

Medica 2013 is being held Nov. 20-23 and Compamed will take place Nov. 20-22 at the Düsseldorf fairgrounds. An app for iPhones, Androids and Blackberries is available providing an interactive map of the trade fair center, allowing users to jump from one hall to another and zoom into exhibitors’ booths or search the exhibitor and product databases.

This year, visitors again will be able to visit both Compamed and Medica with one entrance pass. E-tickets bought online can be printed out immediately after purchase and are less expensive than tickets purchased onsite, organizers note.