Issued by: Pan African Health Congress


Fair Consultants has bought the Pan African Health Congress with the aim of promoting the medical industry, medical technology and pharmaceuticals throughout Africa. Development assistance for health has increased from about R20 billion in 1990 to more than R104 billion in 2005, an increase of over 500% - representing a huge business opportunity for the African market.

“Foreign donors and African governments are making health their priority and as a result the money has been made available”, continues Bette. “Overall, about 10% of Africa's healthcare expenditure is now financed directly by donor aid.” After years of neglect, healthcare in Africa is taking centre stage. Africa is realising that healthy populations are crucial for sustainable development. Sustainable development cannot be achieved countries where there is a high prevalence of debilitating illness and poverty.

“Stakeholders are realising that investing in health, particularly the health of the poor people, is central to the achievement of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGS)”, continues Bette. Health is central to creating and sustaining the capabilities that the poor need to escape from poverty. The MDGS are challenging, specific targets requiring urgent action and international cooperation for their achievement. Pan African Health 2008 creates a unique forum for facilitating the achievement of the MDGS.”

Pan African Health 2008 creates a unique “business to health” forum for healthcare decision-makers and solution providers. In addition to the exhibition, the event provides an unparalleled networking platform for Africa's healthcare decision makers. The key components making up this year's event include the exhibition, a conference, as well as a B2B Networking Forum.

For the first time ever, the Pan African Health Expo and Conference will take place concurrently with the ACSA Disability Expo and Conference, an event focussing on products and services for people with disabilities (PWDs). This will undoubtedly enhance, add value and create more opportunities for Pan African Health participants.

Exhibitor categories for the Pan African Health Expo include:

· Healthcare solutions providers

· Medical technology and equipment

· Diagnostics and medical suppliers

· Disposables

· Pharmaceutical products

· Surgical products and devices

· Medical IT and education

· Medical service providers


The distribution of medical supplies into Africa is a very competitive market, not only with regards to large multi-nationals fighting for market dominance but also from traders in countries that are very strong in commodity related products, such as India and China. Delivery time is a key factor because supplies need to reach communities urgently and by using South Africa as a base source it is made easier. South Africa can thus be considered to be a valuable asset in the delivery of medical supplies to the rest of Africa from Europe, China, India and Malaysia. “The Pan African Health Expo puts the right people into contact with each other and gives the medical industry the information needed to build business relationships.” says Bette.

Healthcare Conference
The International Healthcare Conference running alongside the Pan African Health Expo will ensure highly qualified visitors on all days. Day one of the conference will focus on attracting physiologists, occupational therapists and prosthetists and other specialised personnel from the medical sector. Day two will focus on economically empowering people with disabilities through education and employment to reduce the correlation between disability and poverty. Bette says ”Statistics show that worldwide and specifically in developing countries, more than 10 million children die unnecessarily from diseases that are easily prevented and cheap to treat, this will be one of the topics on the agenda.”

B2B Forum
The B2B (Business to Business) Forum is aimed at putting buyers in touch with sellers, introducing agents where needed and expanding company contacts. Bette believes that the Pan African Health Expo and Conference can make a significant impact on African healthcare. “By putting the right people in contact to make a difference, reports like the UN scenario report in March 2005, estimating that 80 million deaths will be cause by HIV/AIDS in Africa by 2025 if current levels of intervention continue, don't have to paint such a negative picture,” she say. “Without an increase in direct healthcare intervention in developing countries the rate of economic development will continue to suffer due to the rate of morbidity, infirmity and mortality. The Pan African Health Expo is the only event of its kind offering a unique forum for those in the health industry and Pan Africa to find solutions together.”

Contact
For more information on the Pan African Heath Expo and Conference 2008, or on the ACSA Disability Expo 2008 contact Bette McNaughton of Fair Consultants SA. Tel: 021 713 3360. Fax: (021) 713 3366. E-mail: bette@fairconsultants.com. Website: www.fairconsultants.com. Publicity: Contact Catherine Larkin at CVL Consulting: Tel: 011 787-9127 / 011 789-7327. Cell: 083 300 0331. E-mail: catherine@cvlc.co.za

Visit our PRESS OFFICE: The Pan African Health Congress is a first-world business to business event - facilitating the trade and transfer of world-class products, technologies and solutions in a developing world environment.- more....

[13 May 2008 09:48]

Share this page (Tell me more)

Click on one of the links below to share this page on a social bookmarking website. To read more on social bookmarking click here