A Dutch healthcare business delegation of about 20 companies visited Nairobi, Kenya from 18 to 21 April 2017, in search of partnerships and investment opportunities in the Kenyan health sector.

Strengthened cooperation between public and private parties is crucial to achieve universal health care coverage and Sustainable Development Goals 3. The Dutch government is planning to support the Kenyan government by facilitating cooperation with the private sector regarding primary healthcare, in the framework of the SDG Platform set up by the UN in Kenya. According to the Euro Health Consumer Index, the Netherlands has the best healthcare system in Europe for the seventh year in a row.

The Kenyan healthcare sector is experiencing exiting times partly due to a growing middle class population, which has caused a hugely increased demand for quality accessible healthcare services. However, Kenya’s health sector faces enormous deficiencies in coverage and infrastructure. It is estimated that 32.5 million Kenyans lack any form of basic insurance and are treated in sub-standard facilities. The Dutch delegation consisted of health companies, ranging from, among others, expertise in hospital construction, medical devices, and health financing solutions to training & education.

For more information on the visit programme visit the TFHC website.

Gathering the biotech sector at Knowledge for Growth

This high-level networking event attracted decision makers from biotech, pharma and medtech as well as investors, universities, top notch research institutes, policymakers and competence providers. Over 1250 delegates from 23 countries attended an exciting programme, which provided vital insights into the global life sciences’ landscape, B2B partnering, a trade fair with 100 exhibitors, and a scientific poster area.

As CEO argenx Tim Van Hauwermeiren commented; “Knowledge for growth offers a very attractive scene for a biotech entrepreneur to meet high quality contacts, in an informal way, as all stakeholders from the vibrant biotech cluster are represented.”

Put 17 May 2018 in your agenda as the next opportunity to be inspired at this annual event.

Dutch presence at the China Medical Equipment Fair 2017

Almost 4,000 medical device manufacturers from over 24 countries, and about 120,000 visitors and buyers who are government procurement agencies, hospital buyers and dealers from over 100 countries and regions gathered for trading and exchanges. For this reason, the CMEF has become the largest professional procurement and trade platform of the medical industry, the best corporate image release ground as well as a professional information distributing centre and an academic and technical exchange platform.

Would you like to know more about this Holland Pavilion at the CMEF? Please contact the Task Force Health Care via jennifer.schrage@tfhc.nl

Exploring eHealth opportunities at the most prominent health IT event in Europe

To anticipate on possible business opportunities the Task Force Health Care (TFHC), in cooperation with the Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) Stuttgart, organised a visitor programme to and during the ConhIT trade fair in Berlin from 24 to 26 April. A Dutch delegation consisting of 15 organisations enjoyed a tailor made visitor programme, which gave a great insight in the German eHealth market in a short period of time and brought the delegation into contact with relevant partners. Alongside their attendance at the ConhIT the delegation visited, among others, the German Ministry of Health and the Alexianer St. Hedwig-Hospital. For more information on activities in Germany click here.

New faces at Innovation Attaché Network 

Innovation attachés are based at Dutch embassies and consulates and they help companies or institutions to innovate across borders.

The Holland Innovation Network (Innovation Attaché Netwerk) supports the internationalisation of Dutch R&D in the triple helix of government, companies and universities or research institutes.  The Innovation Advisors are the liaison between science and technology landscapes in the Netherlands and other countries.

Two new attachés started this month. First, Wilco Schuttelaar is going to Sweden to the Dutch embassy in Stockholm. Over the past few years he founded Zorginnovatie.nl and health innovation will still be an important subject for him in Sweden. Second, Martijn Verwegen who worked as a policy officer at NWO, will now become innovation adviser at the Dutch embassy in London.

There are also some other moves within the  attaché network: Bart Sattler is going to Berlin, Petra Smits to Sao Paulo and Nico Schiettekatte to Paris.

Feel free to contact them (www.ianetwerk.nl) with your questions about international innovation!

Guest country at the Hospitalar 2017

International attention to the Dutch health care system, policy and management positively affects universities

An interview with Prof. Joris van de Klundert (iBMG) on the international activities

Invite your international guests to the Netherlands!

The International Visitors Programme allows decision-makers in healthcare to visit and share knowledge with health stakeholders in the Netherlands. Visitors enjoy the opportunity to meet like-minded professionals who share the same passion and face similar challenges in healthcare. Compare policies and procedures, structures, solutions and opportunities for partnerships to foster improvement.

For more information click here.