HealthCare Business News spoke to Karol Fajardo Mariño, director of international business at Corferias, to find out what healthcare industry stakeholders can expect from the upcoming MEDITECH International Health Fair taking place in Bogota, Colombia from July 9-12, 2024.

HCB News: For people who are unfamiliar, can you give us some background on MEDITECH and its role in the medical industry?
Karol Fajardo Mariño: MEDITECH will take place from July 9 – 12, 2024 at the International Business and Exhibition Center of Bogota, Colombia - CORFERIAS. It is an international trade fair for the healthcare sector and is organized every two years by Corferias, the Colombian Association of Hospitals and Clinics (ACHC) and Messe Düsseldorf North America. It is THE hub for the life sciences and healthcare industries in Latin America, attracting qualified visitors with decision-making authority and showcasing innovations, developments and study results, thus reflecting the important advances in the healthcare system.

HCB News: What kind of medical industry stakeholders should exhibit at MEDITECH 2024?
KFM: It is important to mention that due to the characteristics of the Colombian market, the country imports more than 80% of its healthcare products. This results in a great opportunity for international companies to enter, not only the Colombian market, but also the Andean, Central America and the Caribbean markets, by participating in MEDITECH.

The trade fair brings together all the stakeholders in the healthcare supply chain presenting the products and services required by hospitals and clinics. Exhibit categories include medical, surgical, orthopedic, rehabilitation and physical therapy equipment, building technology, services for hospitals, furniture, medical laboratory equipment and supplies as well as software & IT, waste management equipment and technology, clean technologies and health tech startups. Universities, hospital management consulting, specialized publications and pharmaceutical laboratories are also among the exhibitors.

HCB News: The event is held every two years, how will this one differ from 2022?
KFM: The event has grown as a result of the demand from Colombian clinics and hospitals to find suppliers that offer high-tech equipment to meet their needs, and also because the trade fair offers components for the transfer of knowledge, content and presentation of innovations. Attendees also have the opportunity to keep up to date by participating in the XV International Congress of Hospitals and Clinics and the 3rd edition of the High Technology Experience Center (CEATH). Additionally, the Health-tech Startups Park will be featured for the second time as a comprehensive opportunity for companies to demonstrate innovative and disruptive solutions based on artificial intelligence, blockchain, IoT, genomics, robotics, virtual reality and augmented reality to key healthcare players and investors.

Business Affairs Homepage