Healthcare UK leads delegates on digital health mission to China
Healthcare innovators improve their opportunities to develop business in China by attending 2 major events backed by Healthcare UK.
Tim Kelsey speaking at the China Health Forum
A team of British delegates travelled to China to promote their businesses and products at the recently opened UK Digital Health Demonstration Centre. The event on 12 August 2014 focused on care for the elderly.
They then went on to attend the 3 day China Health Forum in Beijing which took place 15 to 17 August and its sister exhibition event, the China Hospeq.
Healthcare UK’s digital healthcare specialist Maddy Bose was one of the leaders of the delegation to China. Maddy Bose said,
This was an important mission to help UK digital healthcare providers showcase their talents and products, to meet stakeholders in China’s developing health system, and to learn more about potential business opportunities.
We know there are challenges for companies trying to break into the market in China, compared for example with trading in Europe, the US or Australia – but the potential long-term benefits make the opportunities well worth exploring.
There’s an increasing emphasis globally on using digital technology in healthcare for efficiency and for refining how healthcare is provided.
In the UK we have tried and tested technology which can be adapted for use in China’s emerging healthcare system, which is why Healthcare UK is so keen help firms market and promote British products.
They were joined on the high profile trip by forum speakers:
- Tim Kelsey, NHS national director for patients and information
- Geraint Lewis, NHS chief data officer
Digital Health Demonstration Centre
Healthcare UK masterminded the setting up of the demonstration centre. This semi-permanent exhibition space is based at the Ningbo Number 2 Hospital in Ningbo city in the Zhejiang province of China.
The centre was opened in June, bringing leading UK expertise in digital healthcare together under one roof. It will remain in China for the next 9 months.
The event at the demonstration centre on August 12 focused on the role of technology in care for the elderly – a major challenge for Chinese society at the moment.
China Health Forum
The 15 delegates from 9 UK companies moved on from Ningbo to Beijing for the policy focused health forum.
Care Visions took advantage of a special seminar organised jointly by Healthcare UK, UKTI and the China-Britain Business Council..
It’s the first British elderly care and rehabilitation provider to establish operations in China, and works from branches in Beijing and Singapore. It’s exploring opportunities to collaborate with Chinese companies to develop operations providing home care and rehabilitation services along with training for healthcare professionals.
Feedback from UK delegates
David Ward, managing director of digital health company GreyMatters Healthcare, said it was an immensely valuable experience.
the trip to Ningbo and Beijing was extremely productive, generating more than 60 leads for us.
We also had serious discussions with a potential joint-venture partner and a number of potential investors and customers. We have been invited to follow-up exhibitions and seminars.