The upcoming staging of MEDICA 2018, the world's leading medical trade fair, will again feature over 5,000 exhibitors from about 70 nations, showcasing innovation and solutions for in- and outpatient care. Digital transformation remains a leading topic, shaping with worldwide health sector and changing both processes and business models. MEDICA will take place from November 12 – 15, 2018 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany.

The digital trend will not only be represented by exhibitor innovations but is also reflected in the programs of the accompanying conferences and forums. These events include the MEDICA HEALTH IT FORUM (on IT topics such as big data, artificial intelligence and cyber security), the MEDICA CONNECTED HEALTHCARE FORUM (hardware and software solutions for connected healthcare) and the MEDICA MEDICINE & SPORTS CONFERENCE. All sessions will be held in English, examining the use of applications which are used in close proximity to the body and wearables for monitoring vital signs.

“Regardless of the progress achieved by digital medicine: The main focus in care is and always will be on human beings. For example, in medical imaging, artificial intelligence allows accurate analyses to be executed and relevant image data to be pre-selected for diagnoses. This accelerates the diagnostic process and offers doctors valuable support in their decision making. However, the doctor’s evaluation remains authoritative,” said Horst Giesen, Global Portfolio Director for Health & Medical Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf.
Creative startups provide stimuli

Many innovative young companies are taking up the global digitalization trend in the healthcare sector. Many of them will be present at MEDICA 2018, for example in the MEDICA START-UP PARK. In addition, a selection of company founders will present their latest ideas in the MEDICA CONNECTED HEALTHCARE FORUM sessions (Hall 15). Among the product innovations to be presented will be a smartphone ophthalmoscope to examine retinas and eyes, which consists of a camera adapter and an app as well as a new procedure for diagnosing skin cancer (which also consists of a smartphone app) and a compact digital stethoscope.

A special characteristics of MEDICA is that it not only presents solutions for individual medical specialist disciplines in one place over a few days, but also covers the complete workflow of patient treatment. The individual focal points are clearly structured according to hall and include: Electromedicine / medical technology (approx. 2,500 exhibitors), laboratory technology / diagnostics, physiotherapy / orthopedic technology as well as commodities and consumables, information and communication technology, medical furniture and specialist furnishings for hospitals and practices.

COMPAMED 2018, High Tech Solutions for Medical Technology, will again be held concurrently with MEDICA 2018. With about 800 exhibitors, COMPAMED will be a hotspot for complex high-tech solutions such as innovative materials, microtechnology and nanotechnology.

In previous years, MEDICA and COMPAMED attracted between 120,000 and 130,000 visitors, with approximately 60% coming from outside Germany.

For further information on visiting or exhibiting at MEDICA or COMPAMED 2018, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America, 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone: (312) 781-5180; Fax: (312) 781-5188; E-mail: info@mdna.com; Visit http://www.medica-tradefair.com, http://www.compamed-tradefair.com and http://www.mdna.com.

For hotel and travel information, contact TTI Travel, Inc. at (866) 674-3476; Fax: (212) 674-3477; E-mail: info@ttitravel.net; www.traveltradeint.com

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