Marketing Medicine MD Chairs WM Medtech Cluster Forum

Wednesday, 10 September 2008 00:00

Over 150 delegates from local industry, health and related organisations were welcomed by event Chair Katy Draper, Managing Director of healthcare marketing agency Marketing Medicine, and Mike Lord, COG Chair and MD of Minivator. In her introduction, Katy Draper set the tone of the event by stressing that closer partnership between industry and the NHS is vital to the survival of both at a time of growing economic pressure. The event looked at the role of the COG in advising AWM on investment in the medtech sector and to facilitate mutual understanding and partnership working between the public and the private sector technologies. Christina Keey-Andersen, Medical Technologies Cluster Manager at AWM, discussed how the COG determines AWM’s strategy for supporting the growth of the medtech sector. The leading element of the COG’s budget allocation is helping companies to access new markets. The key areas it focuses on are ‘intelligent health’, assisted living, infection control and human engineering. She described the COG as “medtech activists”, building and promoting a culture of innovative healthcare. Tony Davis, CEO of Medilink West Midlands, discussed how the Darzi report shows the NHS working to break down its artificial barriers to innovation. Mike Lord expressed the hope that the NHS will come to accept CE Mark approval as confirming the safety of a product. Both speakers emphasised the growing importance of the consumer market, and the resulting need for ‘crossover’ products targeting both the NHS and retail. Jamie Methuen, Product Manager for Smith & Nephew, spoke on ‘The Future of the Medical & Healthcare Sector in the West Midlands’. He explained the shift of the S&N orthopaedics business to Warwick in terms of the region’s workforce, facilities and communications links. Katy Draper said “ I was delighted to be asked to chair this high profile event for the West Midlands as I am passionate about helping the MedTech sector to develop in the region.  It is only by pulling all parties together for discussion and debate that we will have a truly joined up private public sector developing.