The total value of the UK healthcare market is over US $10.5 Billion, growing at a rate of 10% a year. The estimated turnover of UK manufacturers of healthcare products is US $7.9 Billion, of which exports account for approximately US $5.3 Billion. British companies are producing ground breaking healthcare products. The UK healthcare industry has its base in a wide range of scientific disciplines and industrial sectors including engineering, informatics and biotechnology. With a strong academic and industrial culture, the UK forms the ideal base for converging technologies to develop innovative products for marketing across Europe and beyond. Many companies in the healthcare sector focus on highly sophisticated niche areas such as diagnostics, bio-device interfaces and laboratory technology. The growing range of applications for biotechnology including diagnostics, genetic testing, pharmaceuticals, genetherapy and bioremediation has opened up opportunities for smaller drug producers, developers and research houses.

Significant innovations in orthopaedics have made UK a leading sector in healthcare

Orthopaedics comprises joint implants, spinal implants, bone grafting , trauma devices and other forms of support is an area of strength for the UK, with significant research as well manufacturing taking place. In 2002 the Orthopaedics market was already worth over US$420 million. Now it is expected to grow at around seven percent over the next few years with leading UK based players, including DePuy Orthopaedics, Biomet, and smith & Nephew, instrumental in this expansion.

The UK is the focus for the world’s top healthcare companies seeking designers and innovators.

The UK design industry is a flourishing US $8.7 billion sector which shoed 18% growth in 2004, with 15% of its turnover coming from overseas. In the fields of drug delivery, diagnostics and surgery, design not only delivers more effective products for users but is contributing high value to the sector through the generation of powerful intellectual property. The design process can greatly enhance the functionality, efficiency, appeal and value of medical and healthcare products.

Wound Management: Fast Growing Healthcare Sector

Advanced wound management is a fast growing healthcare sector in UK driven by early adoption of moist dressings and boosted by the presence of some of the world’s leading woundcare players, including Smith & Nephew, Ethicon and Conva tec and a host of other organizations. Valued at around US $156 million in 2002, the advanced wound management sector employs around 6000 people in the UK. It comprises active or moist conducive products as well as interactive products like artificial skin, graft materials , growth facto and biomaterial dressings.

The industry is developed from collaboration between UK based companies, hospitals, universities and research units. Examples includes "The Wound Healing Research Unit" (WHRU) & "CellTran" , a spinout from the University of Sheffield, developed a product called "myskin", which uses a patient’s own skin cells to treat burns ans chronic wounds. Partnered with a top NHS supplier for distribution, CellTran has recently rolled out the "myskin" range.

Anaesthetic & Respiratory Products

Valued at US $ 48 million, the respiratory anesthetics sector comprises anesthesia machines, ventilators and patient monitoring devices. Leading players includes : Drager Medical AG & CO. KGaA , the largest division of Dragerwerk AG and 65:35 joint venture company between Dragerwerk AG and Siemens AG.

In-VITRO Diagnostics

The UK has excellent track record of developing track record of developing and exporting world class In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) products. UK annual global export sales currently stands at US $ 525 million and the domestic market is also showing growth with sales reaching over US $ 480 million in 2003. The sector comprises test kits, reagents and associated analytical instrumentation- anything from simple over-the-counter pregnancy kits to sophisticated products needed for diagnosis of cancer. The UK has also been instrumental in developing IVD devices for testing cardiovascular risks, cancer, diabetes, infectious diseases and osteoporosis. These products have the potential to revolutionize the way in which healthcare is delivered and to cement the UK as a leader in UK.

A number of regional healthcare clusters have developed in the South East, East Midlands, East of England and Yorkshire & Humberside. Small and medium sized enterprises and multinationals are working side by side to make the UK a leader in healthcare.

ASSOCIATION

UK Trade & Investment

UK trade & Investment helps to achieve International Business potential. It is UK government organization that supports companies in the UK trading internationally and overseas enterprises seeking to locate in the UK. In India, UK Trade & Investment is represented at the British High Commission in New Delhi (Comenq.newdelhi@fco.gov.uk), The Deputy High Commissions (Bdhcchen@vsnl.com), British Trade Office in Bangalore & Hyderabad (Bto.bangalore@fco.gov.uk), btohyd@dishnetdsl.net & business information centres across India. The detail information is available on website www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk.

Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI)

Another association involved in trading for medical technology industry is The Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI, www.abhi.org.uk ). This sector comprises not only manufacturers of medical devices, equipment and consumables, but also service companies, distributors, professional groups (such as architects and lawyers), and other suppliers to the medical community. ABHI has over 200 member companies whose annual output is about 80% of the industry’s total. The role of the Association is to advance and promote medical systems (devices, equipment, technologies and services) within the UK and globally. Also provides a forum for policy discussion with the industry’s customers, legislators, public bodies and interested groups. The Email Id is enquire.org.uk 

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