Add to this under funded healthcare systems in Africa, new learning democracies – compared with a vociferous thirst for additional medical talent in treating an ever aging population in the “West”, it’s not hard to see that the struggle for scarce resources is not an even playing field right now. Especially in healthcare.

In 1998 South Africans numbered the largest group of foreign dentists in the United Kingdom, he said.

“Only 50 out of 600 doctors trained in Zambia since independence were still practising in Zambia. More Malawi doctors were practising in the city of Manchester in the UK than in the whole of Malawi.

“One estimate says that Africa lost USD 1.2 billion of investment on the 60,000 professionals who left the continent between 1985 and 1990.

via African universities key to remake continent: Mbeki – Times LIVE.

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September 2, 2010

The U.S. International Trade Commission USITC has voted to institute an investigation of certain adjustable-height beds and components thereof. The products at issue in this investigation are adjustable beds, used for home health care, that allow for the height of the bed spring to be adjusted relative to the floor.The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Invacare Corporation of Elyria, OH, on August 5, 2010.

The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain adjustable-height beds and components thereof that infringe patents asserted by Invacare. The complainant requests that the USITC issue an exclusion order and cease and desist orders.

The USITC has identified the following as respondents in this investigation:Medical Depot, Inc., d/b/a Drive Medical Design and Manufacturing, of Port Washington, NY; and Shanghai Shunlong Physical Therapy Equipment Co., Ltd., of China.

via ITC Section 337 Inv.: Adjustable-Height Beds; September 2, 2010.

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PharMedExpo Jordan

PharMed Expo to be held in Amman – Jordan (from 18th – 21st October, 2010).

The event this year will provide a unique opportunity for companies seeking not only to do business in Jordan and the Middle East countries but most notably Iraq following the recent withdrawal of US forces.

A good place to network and meet opinion leaders.

Medexpo | MID EAST MEDICAL INTERNATIONAL.

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Medical Device Summit China

This meeting will be held 13-14 January, 2011 at the Swissôtel Beijing Hong Kong Macau Center, Beijing, China.

The Chinese market for medical devices is growing rapidly and this meeting will address regulatory issues, distribution and market access in general.

For any company wishing to enter this huge, fast growing market this looks like an important meeting.

via 2nd China International Medical Device Summit 2011 Upcoming.

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When Medicare says “more to come…” about

Home health, DME, and hospice open door forums regarding pharmacies providing & billing #Medicare for #DME. More details to come…

What exactly do they mean…

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Rehacare will be held in Düsseldorf, Germany from October 6 – 9, 2010 and Medtrade will be held in Atlanta, USA from November 15 – 18, 2010.

Visitors can expect to see the latest in wheelchairs and home medical equipment, including respiratory products and patient aids.

Sibaya will be attending so if you would like to meet with us just contact us here.

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Invacare responded to communications made by Ted Strickland which accuse Invacare and Invacare board member John Kasich of outsourcing jobs to China.

Invacare noted that

Though difficult, the changes made in 2006 strengthened Invacare and over the past few years, despite the challenging economy, the Company has added approximately 200 associates to its Ohio campus and rehired many associates.

Just trying to look at the facts here, it should be noted that Invacare is not alone as most of the large homecare and mobility companies (in the US and Europe) outsourced significant production to Asia and other locations.

The basic reasons we see:

1. Reimbursement is being slashed by Government agencies in many parts of the world, so costs have to be cut dramatically
2. Shareholders expect constantly improving returns
3. The market is pricing more competitive as distribution channels change from brick and mortar to online
4. The barriers to entry have been lowered because products have less differentiation and often have little patent protection
5. Last but not least – several Asian companies that benefited from the initial outsourcing years ago are now entering the markets as direct competitors (but still manufacturing in Asia).

This process is of course not unique to the wheelchair and homecare industry as jobs in the US and Europe are lost to outsourcing.

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Elderly and vulnerable people are being duped into handing over thousands of pounds for overpriced mobility aids by rogue traders.

Of course manufacturers also can and do play a role by being careful about which dealers and distributors they do business with. One of the issues today though is that the barriers for an unscrupulous dealer to buy product directly from Asia and then resell in the UK or other countries is much lower.

Theoretically the benefit of the above is that consumers should be getting products at competitive prices. Unfortunately all too often, as reported here, not only are the cost savings not being passed on but prices are extortionate. In addition there is a high risk of little to no after sales service. This blog has several examples of people trying to locate and shop around for mobility product spares.

This is a homcare and mobility industry issue in the UK as well as other countries and is obviously not being dealt with adequately. The industry (and associations) had better do a better job with this before the Government decides to “help”.

via BBC News – Mobility aid sales scam warning.

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Announcement on Dutch competition authority NMa investigation

Moss, 23 August 2010 -

The owners of Handicare signed a sales and purchase agreement with Nordic Capital Fund VII in June. Such an ownership change is subject to customary approval by relevant competition authorities.  In a recent decision the Dutch competition authority the NMa decided that a further market investigation is needed to assess Nordic Capital Fund VII’s acquisition of Handicare. The investigation is expected to conclude in the later part of this year, after which we expect to obtain a license to close the transaction.

We understand that the NMa needs more time. Business will continue as usual and we will keep on working hard to serve our customers with innovative products and excellent service, making everyday life easier for our customers, says CEO Per Gunnar Borhaug at Handicare.The background for the delay in merger clearance is another Nordic Capital fund’s holding in Swedish powered wheelchair producer Permobil. Handicare and Permobil would continue to be two independently operated companies after the intended transaction, but the NMa has decided to consider the two companies to be under joint control for merger filing purposes.

Business will carry on as usual and Handicare will maintain the strategy to offer customers and end users high quality mobility solutions.

For more information, please contact: Per Gunnar Borhaug, CEO Handicare, +47 69244514

Rens Schoenmakers, Managing Director Mobility Handicare, +31 492 593 886  Date: 23/08/2010

via Announcement on Dutch competition authority NMa investigation – Handicare UK.

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As anybody in the Scooter and Wheelchair business knows, battery or power packs are one of the components which are most critical. Battery range, reliability, safety and cost are key factors consumers search for.

More:

Foshan Teams With Pihsiang to Form China-Taiwan Electric-Car Ventures – Bloomberg.

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