In its 20th edition, the Hospitalar 2013 Fair was held at the Norte Expo Center in Sao Paulo, an 82 thousand square meter space. In addition, this annual health industry event provided a chance for different international companies seeking business opportunities to build links with Brazilian and foreign institutions from a wide variety of segments in the sector.
The 1250 exhibitors from Brazil and overseas were able to exchange knowledge, exhibit new products, make deals and establish contacts with new clients from across the world.
The 2013 edition hosted 615 foreign exhibitors from 37 countries, making the connection between Brazil and the rest of Latin America clear. Argentina, the United States and Italy were the three countries honored at a commemorative ceremony for having been present since the first edition in 1993. Companies who participated in the event every year were also recognized.
Telemedicine and Telehealth stood out at Hospitalar 2013
During the fair, presentations were made on experiences and news from several different sectors related to health and technology and products and services related to ICTs, telemedicine and telehealth stood out notably in this edition: the area designated for companies that supply these products grew by 15% compared to last year.
Congresses, meetings and seminars
While the ground floor of the expo center contained the exhibitor stands and live demonstrations, the auditoriums were the venues for Forum seminars run by international companies and universities. In all 60 congresses, seminars and meetings took place.
In particular, Digital Health debated the value of professionals through remote technologies and education. Aimed at industry professionals, the seminar featured the presence of healthcare authorities – both governmental and municipal – and directors of the e-health departments at companies such as Vivo, Intel and Microsoft.
ABCIS (The Brazilian Health IT Association) held the first seminar on the final day of the Fair, on IT integration in healthcare. The main topic of the event, which featured renowned specialists in the sector and healthcare management professionals, was technology as a strategic tool for improving the quality of health in Brazil. Other issues addressed included: mobile health, telemedicine and telehealth, information security, the unique health record, process management and governance.
Healthcare Personality of the Year
Awarded jointly by representative bodies and organizations in the sector in Brazil, the Hospitalar Prize for Personality of the Year was handed over during the Fair. Started in 2005, the award is given to professionals who have made a significant contribution to the advance of medicine, research, hospital-medical care and quality of life. This year the winning professional was Ivo Pitanguy, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who has been working in the area for over 50 years.
Until next year
Government representatives, such as the British Minister Kenneth Clarke, were also present at Hospitalar 2013. Clarke said that in recent years Brazil had become one of the markets that the United Kingdom’s health sector was most interested in, together with other emerging economies such as China and India.
The German Minister of Health, Daniel Bahr, the Danish Minister of Commerce and Investment, Pia Olsen Dyrh; and the Minister for Enterprise, Business and Investment of Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster, also visited the Fair.
During the closing ceremony for the International Congress of Healthcare Services, the Brazilian Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, spoke about governmental promotion of sporting events such as the World Cup and the Confederations Cup that are being hosted by the country and how public healthcare was an important factor in them. The conference continued with the presence of sector representatives and the President of Hospitalar, Waleska Santos, who emphasized the importance of a government minister lending prestige to the event. The general manager of Hospitalar, José María Lasry, said that the plan for the future would be to perfect the tools that exhibitors can use to improve their business. The executive went on to say that a large number of companies had already confirmed their presence at the next edition of the fair which will take place between the 20th and 23rd of May 2014.
