Mission Description:

The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, U.S. Commercial Service, Office of Export Promotion Services is organizing a Healthcare Technologies Trade Mission to The United Kingdom and Ireland, September 15-19, 2003. The Trade Mission will target the healthcare technologies industries, with an emphasis on the telemedicine sector, which is experiencing strong growth in these markets. The focus of the delegation will be to match participating U.S. companies with qualified agents, distributors, representatives, licensees, and joint venture partners in these markets.

Commercial Setting:

United Kingdom
The United Kingdom (UK) has a medical equipment market valued at $3.7 billion, making it the 6th largest market in the world, and the 4th largest market in Europe. The United States is the UK's largest import supplier, with U.S. products accounting for close to one quarter of the domestic market.

While much of the healthcare industry is handled by the public sector, there has recently been a shift towards private care, which provides increased opportunities for investment. The National Health Service (NHS), the United Kingdom's public health organization, is currently undergoing substantial reform and has increased its budget by 35 percent through 2005 in order to pay for improvements including telemedicine-related initiatives.

Telemedicine, referring to the incorporation of traditional medical equipment and practices with information and telecommunication technologies, is a big concern in the UK. The NHS has pledged that it will have the most up-to-date information technology systems to ensure that patients get the best service. The NHS has promised telemedicine facilities for all local health services, electronic booking of appointments, access to electronic medical records, and electronic prescriptions by 2005. A number of pilot telemedicine trials have been implemented, and there are more than 100 projects currently being explored.

Ireland
The Government of Ireland has presented a 10-year health strategy plan for the development of Irish health services for the period 2002 to 2011. The Irish Prime Minister, Mr. Bertie Ahern, has declared that the strategy for "Quality and Fairness" will ensure "world-class service for every patient." The cost of the plan is estimated at $11 billion and includes $6 billion for capital expenditure and $4.4 billion for current spending. Opportunities exist for U.S. companies to supply medical equipment across a wide range of healthcare sub-sectors during the lifetime of the plan.

Ireland's Industrial Development Authority (IDA) has labeled Ireland the 'healthcare capital of Europe' and cites that over the last 10 years, every U.S. medical device company looking for a European base has selected Ireland as its preferred site.

The U.S. dominates the import market as U.S. medical devices and equipment enjoy a strong reputation among Irish medical personnel. The large number of personnel who study and train in the U.S., combined with the attendance of Irish medical distributors and end users at U.S. medical trade fairs, has contributed to strong receptivity of U.S. medical equipment in Ireland.

Telemedicine is targeted as one of the strongest areas for sales by U.S. companies in Ireland. Indeed, a part of the Irish government Health Strategy states that by 2004, electronic patient records and health-related IT infrastructure will be in place for many practitioners in Ireland.

Mission Goals:

The Trade Mission's goal is to gain first-hand market information and provide access to key government officials and potential business partners for new-to-market, and/or new-to-export U.S. healthcare technologies firms desiring to enter these two promising markets.

Mission Scenario:

The trade mission will spend two and a half days in the UK and two and a half days in Ireland, including appointments with Irish government procurement officers and a briefing on selling to the Irish government. The Commercial Service will provide a market briefing highlighting opportunities in the healthcare technologies sector, schedule one-on-one appointments with potential business partners for each participant, and arrange hospitality events to introduce participants to key business and industry officials.

Tentative Timetable:

Sunday, September 14	Arrive in London, England
Monday, September 15	Market Briefing in London Trade Mission Meetings Evening Reception
Tuesday, September 16	Trade Mission Meetings
Wednesday, September 17	Depart for Dublin, Ireland (morning) Meetings with Irish government procurement officers and briefing on selling to the Irish government
Thursday, September 18	Market Briefing in Ireland Trade Mission Meetings Evening Reception
Friday, September 19	Trade Mission Meetings Conclusion of Trade Mission

Criteria for Participation:

• Relevance of the company's business line to the mission scope and goals
  
• Potential for business in the selected markets
  
• Timeliness of the company's completed application, participation agreement, and payment of the mission participation fee
  
• Provision of adequate information on the company's products and/or services and communication of the company's primary objectives to facilitate appropriate matching with potential business partners
  
• Certification that the company's products and/or services are manufactured or produced in the United States or if manufactured/produced outside of the United States, the product/service must be marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have U.S. content representing at least 51% of the value of the finished good or service.

  The mission will be promoted through the following venues: the Export Assistance Centers and Teams; National Association of Manufacturer's newsletters and publication; the Federal Register; relevant trade publications; relevant trade associations; past Commerce trade mission participants; various in-house and purchased industry lists, and on the Commerce Department trade missions calendar - www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html - and other Internet websites.

  Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection process. The participation fee will be between $3,000 - $3,400 for the trade mission. Participation fees do not include the cost of travel and lodging. Participation is open to the first 10 qualified U.S. companies. Recruitment will begin immediately and will close on May 30, 2003. Applications received after that date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Contact Information:

Bill Kutson, Project Manager
U.S. Commercial Service
Export Promotion Services
U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2117
Washington, D.C. 20230
Tel: (202) 482-2839
Fax: (202) 482-2718
E-mail: william.kutson@mail.doc.gov