PRESS RELEASE

Taken from the publication Medica Today - 21 Nov 08

Globalisation Also Helps Patients

Almost 300 British companies attended the Medica Exhibition in Germany during November 08. Hauke Gerlof from Medica Today had the opportunity of interviewing Gareth Thomas, UK Minister of State in the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform. Below is an abstract from that interview:

Gareth Thomas, Minister of State UK met with Dr Brian Phillips at Medica 2008

Gareth Thomas, Minister of State in the British Department for Business, Enterprise
& Regulatory Reform (BERR) met with CTG's Managing Director, Dr Brian Phllips at Medica 2008, Dusseldorf, Germany

Medica Today: Mr Thomas, what brings you, a British Minister of State to the world’s largest trade fair for medicine?

Gareth Thomas: I am here to support companies from Britain in international competition and to underline the importance of the healthcare industry. We are extremely well represented at the Medica Exhibition, with almost 300 exhibitors. All of them regard the Medica Exhibition as a very helpful forum. The market continues to grow, and this is very encouraging.

Medica Today: Did you have any concrete goals for your visit, or specific companies or innovations that you are especially interested in?

Gareth Thomas: There are numerous exciting innovations developed by British companies shown at Medica. Here are just a couple of examples in diagnostics: The Chelsea Technologies Group has developed a rapid diagnostics screening system to identify micro-organisms following a terrorist attack and Lab M has launched products onto the market that help to reduce the frequency of meningitis and enteritis in newborns.

Medica Today: Visitors from all over the world come to Medica. What does globalization in the health sector mean to you?

Gareth Thomas: Globalization is a very good thing for us as one of the leading countries in the development of innovative medical products. It leads to the creation of jobs and stimulates exports, and patients have access to innovations from other countries – this is a win-win situation for all those involved.

CTG is keen to meet with organizations who may be interested in collaborating on commercialization of their rapid diagnostics screening platform. Contact Ellen Keegan to set up a meeting.