If you would like to book a meeting with one of our Commercial Officers, please visit us at Medica in Hall 16, J48 to find out their availability.
Please use the following links to view DIT Commercial Officers contact details for Medica 2022:
- DIT Argentina
- DIT Austria
- DIT Belgium
- DIT Brazil
- DIT China
- DIT Finland
- DIT France
- DIT Germany
- DIT Ireland
- DIT Iran
- DIT Italy
- DIT Lima
- DIT Mexico
- DIT The Netherlands
- DIT Panama
- DIT Paraguay
- DIT Poland
- DIT Portugal
- DIT Saudi Arabia
- DIT Scotland
- DIT Spain
- DIT Taiwan
- DIT Trinidad and Tobago (English Speaking Caribbean)
- DIT Turkey
- DIT Uruguay
Marisa Leoncini is Trade & Investment Adviser in DIT Argentina. She graduated as an English-Spanish Translator of Business, Science and Literature in Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires. She has worked in foreign trade in the private sector and has a vast experience in DIT. Her sector responsibilities are life sciences, food & drink and education.
Market overview:
Argentina is the 2nd largest economy in South America after Brazil and the 3rd largest economy in Latin America after Mexico and Brazil. The country has the 2nd largest GDP in S. America (USD 445 billion) and is part of part of the Mercosur, largest trading bloc with an output that equals the 8th economy in the world. It is a huge country, 11 times larger than the UK. The population is 45 million concentrated in the main urban cities such as Buenos Aires, Rosario, Cordoba and Mendoza. Buenos Aires is the hub for the country so your one-stop shop in most industry sectors. It is familiar with a European business culture. There are over 100 British subsidiaries present in the market. With one of the highest doctor to population ratios in Latin America (39.6 doctors per 10.000 inhabitants), the Argentine healthcare system offers three distinct markets: A- the public health sector; B- the social security sector and C- the private healthcare sector. There are export opportunities for innovative medical technology and pharmaceutical products.
Experienced business professional with an extensive international career history that has spanned business, policy and academia. Skilled in strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement, business development, advisory, project management, primary and secondary research, analysis and reporting, advocacy and corporate communication. Leads on the Healthcare & Life Sciences portfolio at UK’s Department for International Trade based at the British Embassy in Vienna helping British exporters expand their commercial reach in Austria. Areas of expertise include digital health, medical technologies, precision medicine, genomics, imaging & diagnostics, physiotherapy & orthopaedic technologies as well as IT systems & solutions.
Market overview:
Healthcare spending in Austria accounts for 10.4% of GDP and has been increasing at a rate of 4.9% annually over the past twenty years.
There are currently around 550 companies in Austria that produce or sell medical devices and technologies, of which 171 are manufacturers and 383 are distribution or service companies. Local production in 2020 reached approximately £2.0 billion with exports of £1.8 billion. Austrian imports of medical equipment were valued at £1.9 billion in 2020, with a continued upward trend projected.
The demographic developments, which are the result of an ageing population, as well as the challenges of integrating new innovations, such as digital health, into the existing healthcare system are constantly increasing the demand for new solutions. Health and medical technologies are therefore particularly dynamic business sectors in Austria.
For UK suppliers of medical devices and technologies, particular opportunities exist in the following areas: healthcare IT (systems/solutions), diagnostics (IVD, HPV,Covid-19), medical imaging, laboratory equipment, mobile health & telemedicine, long-term & dementia care, age-friendly furniture/homes, mental health & wellbeing, intelligent implants, and nanomanufacturing technologies.
Mathieu Vanoverberghe
Head of Trade - Health & Life Sciences
E: Mathieu.Vanoverberghe@fcdo.gov.uk
T: (+32) 474 84 31 11
Experienced Trade Adviser with a history of working in the government relations industry. Local Belgian DIT support focusses on providing connections to local importers and distributors, federations and associations, provide information on the healthcare environment and legislation in general and can be assigned to track specific procurement tenders.
Market overview:
The Belgian health system covers almost the entire population for a large range of services. The main source of financing is social contributions, proportional to income. The provision of care is based on the principles of independent medical practice, free choice of physician and care facility, and predominantly fee-for-service payment.
Challenges for Belgium remain in terms of appropriateness of pharmaceutical care (overuse of antibiotics and psychotropic drugs), reduced accessibility for mental health and dental care due to higher user charges, socioeconomic inequalities in health status and the need for further strengthening of prevention policies. The system must also continue to evolve to cope with an ageing population, an increase of chronic diseases and the development of new technologies.
Opportunities for UK exporters in goods can be found inter alia in the sector of disposables, diagnostics and medical imaging. On the services side, Belgium has a strong reputation in supporting R&D via clinical trials, which provides opportunities for UK CROs. Local DIT support focusses on providing connections to local importers and distributors, federations and associations, provide information on the healthcare environment and legislation and can be assigned to track specific procurement tenders.
Larissa Vázquez
Healthcare and Life Sciences Business Development Manager
E: Larissa.Vazquez@fcdo.gov.uk
T: (+55) 11 3094 2702
Larissa Vázquez is the Healthcare and Life Sciences Business Development Manager at DIT Brazil. Her role is to support UK providers entering and growing their presence in Brazil by providing market information, identifying opportunities in the market, connecting UK companies with key local buyers and working on strategic activities to open the market for UK providers in Brazil. Larissa have been working in DIT for the past 3 years and has extensive experience in trade support and government relations. She covers all areas of healthcare and life sciences and is particularly involved with market access agendas. Larissa holds a degree in International Relations and her experience includes business development in the education sector, project management, account management and government relations.
Market overview:
Brazil has the largest healthcare market in Latin America, valued at US$237 billion in 2018, and forecasted to be worth US$327 billion by 2023. The country has a universal public health system, SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde), responsible for treating 75% of the population. The Brazilian private healthcare market is the third largest in the world, providing medical assistance to over 48 million people, and accounting for 58% of total healthcare spending.
In 2020, pharmaceutical sales reached US$21 billion, making the country the largest market in Latin America and sixth largest in the world. There are notable opportunities for innovative drugs and raw ingredients. Companies can benefit from collaborating with local pharma companies (licensing out and distribution). The best prospects are in the following therapeutic lines: CNS, cardio/metabolic, respiratory, women’s health, orthopaedics, oncology, pain management, genomics, advanced therapies and mRNA technology. There are also opportunities for modern life disorders.
The Brazilian medical devices market is the largest in Latin America, valued at US$5 billion in 2019, with consumables accounting for more than a quarter of it. The market is heavily dependent on foreign companies and industries: in 2019, around 52% of all medical devices were supplied by imports.
Rita Huang
Senior Trade and Investment Officer
T: (+86) 20 8314 3069
Cynthia Han
Senior Trade and Investment Officer
T: (+86) 13 6616 89300
Dakota Du
Northern Powerhouse Life Sciences and Agriculture Investment Manager
T: (+86) 18610810842
Rita Huang:
Rita joined DIT Life Sciences and Healthcare team in 2019 and responsible for promoting the trade and investment opportunities between UK and China for South China region. Rita has supported a number of UK companies entering China market and Chinese companies’ investment into UK through one-to-one business matching meetings, events such as CMEF/MEDICA. She is the national lead for the Wound Care and Rehabilitation subsectors within the team. Rita also work on other subsectors like IVD, consumer health products, etc.
Before joining DIT, Rita also worked on trade and investment and has more than 8 years of international business development experiences. She has built a close network with industry players and regulators.
Cynthia Han:
Cynthia's role is to promote the trade and Investment opportunities in the Healthcare & Life Sciences Sector between UK and China. She is based in Shanghai and responsible for the East-China region, with the focus on the Medical Imaging, Consumer Health and Surgical Instruments. She has a track record in guiding companies to pursue bilateral trade and investment opportunities and building trusted partnership with different stakeholders at all levels.
She has over 6 years’ experience worked in the Healthcare sector in both Uk and China, including hospitals, Care Homes and individual Homes. She has lived in the UK for 6 years and holds a degree in Business Studies.
Dakota Du:
Dakota joined DIT in 2018, responsible for inward investment to the Northern Powerhouse in lifesciences and agritech. Prior to her role with DIT, she worked at a Chinese medical imaging company for 5 years for their global business expansion.
Market overview:
China is set to become the largest global market for life sciences by the end of this decade and regulatory reforms have transformed access for foreign firms. Despite being the world’s second largest economy, China still remains an enigma. China’s £60bn medical device market is driving a third of global growth in the sector. China is open to foreign mid to high end products, particularly in: In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD); orthopaedics, diagnostic imaging equipment and wound care, while innovative devices to benefit its relevant policies are pursued by investors. This webinar will provide you with the information and confidence you need to consider China.
Verneri is based at the British Embassy in Helsinki and works with UK businesses interested in Finland’s healthcare sector.
Market overview:
British Embassy in Helsinki supports UK companies interested in the Finnish market. Finland's new Health and Social Services Reform is well underway and is designed to safeguard equal and quality health and social services for all. It will restructure the organisation of public healthcare and social welfare. The reform is used as an opportunity to speed up the digitalisation of Finnish public healthcare. The growing demand for innovative health tech solutions is driven by Finland’s rapidly ageing population and the decreasing workforce in the healthcare sector. Growing private healthcare sector is also looking for innovative new health tech solutions.
Julie Lebouleux-Linosi
Senior Adviser - Health & Life Sciences - Trade
E: Julie.Lebouleux@fcdo.gov.uk
T: (+33) 068 580 6191
With an experience of more than 10 years in the health and life sciences industry, Julie has developed an excellent network of key stakeholders and has contributed to long-term bilateral partnerships. She would be pleased to help you identifying the most relevant opportunity for your innovation and the most appropriate route to market.
Market overview:
Healthcare is a key sector in France with a total turnover of €70 billion. It represents 201,000 direct jobs and 200,000 indirect jobs. France is the second market in Europe for both human medicines and medical devices. Where are the opportunities? E-Health/Digital Health, MedTech, Ageing Society and Drug discovery technologies including Covid-19 related.
Baerbel has been working as a Trade Advisor for Life Sciences in the Duesseldorf DIT Office in the British Consulate-General for more than 10 years. Within the sector she focuses on medical technology, healthcare and digital in healthcare. The medtech sector is important for the German economy. It is a growth market employing more than 210,000 people. Germany is the second largest medical technology producer with a global share of 9.9% after the US. It is the UK’s top export destination for medical devices in the EU.
Market overview:
Medical technology is a growth sector within the German health industry. The sector is characterised by small and medium sized companies of which 93% have less than 250 employees. Altogether, 235,000 people are employed in medtech.
The sector drives innovation. Medtech companies invest an average of 9% of their turnover in R&D. The export quota in 2020 was 65%, the turnover €34 billion. After a decline in last year the industry expects an increase of 3% in turnover this year.
Digitalisation, AI and big data are topics in the industry and offer good opportunities in the market.
Peter Harnett:
Trade Adviser leading on Healthcare and Life Sciences for the DIT Ireland team since 2020, focusing on working with UK exporters seeking to work with Irish partners in the sector.
Market overview:
Ireland falls within the top five leading export markets for UK companies according to ONS statistics from 2019, with exports totalling £36.6 billion. Ireland's cultural, language and legal similarities to the UK make it an ideal market for first-time exporters and popular market for experienced exporters.
Medicinal and pharmaceutical products were the most traded good between the UK and Ireland in 2020. Many opportunities exist for companies to work with the Irish health service, directly or through local partners. Ireland is also a hub for both pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing.
Senior Trade Adviser leading on Healthcare and Life Sciences with the Department for International Trade based in the British Embassy Tehran/Iran. Masters of International Business Economics from University of Westminster in London, with more than 10 years of experience of linking Iranian companies to foreign companies, Shadi has developed an excellent network of key stakeholders and is committed to raise the market awareness between the two countries.
Market overview:
Iran holds a share of one percent (about $5 billion) in the global market for medical equipment of approximately $500 billion, but the country has the potential to increase the share, according to the statistics of the Ministry of Health.
Iran’s current healthcare expenditure is around % 7 of the GDP. Iran’s government has allocated $13.6 bn in 2022/2023 to the Ministry of Health and healthcare.
Healthcare is one of the key sectors that UK currently trades with Iran and is technically exempt from US sanctions. UK exporters are typically SMEs with limited or no US exposure.
Export opportunities for UK suppliers are mostly in products related to cancer treatment, special diseases, cardiac surgery, minimal invasive, neurosurgery and in In-Vitrio Diagnostics (IVDs) such as coagulation, biochemistry, electrophoresis, nematology and immunohematology and more.
Carolina della Ventura
Export Growth Adviser
E: Carolina.Dellaventura@fcdo.gov.uk
T: (+39) 335 77 91 909
Graduated with honours from Cattolica University and Bocconi University in Milan, Carolina has an academic background in Economics and Management. She developed her expertise in the Healthcare and Life Sciences sectors while working at the Embassy of Israel in Italy before joining, in 2021, the Department for International Trade at the British Consulate General. Here she works as Export Growth Adviser and supports UK companies in entering and growing in the Italian market.
Rodrigo Acevedo Espinoza
Business Development Officer – Life Sciences
E: Rodrigo.Acevedo@fcdo.gov.uk
T: (+51) 99371 3358
Rodrigo “Rod” Acevedo is the Life Sciences & Healthcare Officer in DIT Peru, at the British Embassy in Lima. He leads DIT Peru’s relationship with public and private healthcare institutions, and is interested in expanding the market for UK companies in the pharmaceutical, medical equipment and digital health sectors. From his role, he is constantly scoping for new business opportunities in Peru, as well as developing new pipelines for quality and innovation in the local healthcare scene. Get in contact with him to know more about Peru, and the fast-growing set of opportunities in its healthcare market.
Pablo Velasco
Senior Trade Officer, Health & Life Sciences
T: (+52) 55 5403 7526
Pablo Velasco:
Pablo Velasco is Senior Trade Officer of Education, Health & Life Sciences for DIT Mexico. With over 10 years of experience in the healthcare sector, he is now helping UK companies identify the opportunities to enter the Mexican market and strengthen the commercial relationship between Mexico and the UK.
Market overview:
Pharma Industry
Mexico is the second largest drugs market in Latin America and one of the most developed markets in the region, with regulatory standards superior to most of its southern neighbours. There are four strategic life science regions identified in Mexico: Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos, and Nuevo Leon. Each boasts strong clinical research clusters, along with clusters driven by foreign investment specifically oriented to pharmaceutical manufacturing. The pharmaceutical industry in Mexico has shown very promising growth (8.4% annually) and it is on becoming one of the main economic drivers for the country. There are also niche opportunities for pharmaceutical production, testing, and quality assurance equipment and supplies. The establishment of research clusters in Mexico can generate demand for equipment and technology to support the increasing research and development of new pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products.
Medical devices
The Mexican market for medical devices ranks as the 11th fastest growing market in the world and is mainly supplied by foreign manufacturers. Meanwhile, Mexico is the 9th largest exporter of medical devices worldwide and holds the number one position in Latin America.
Based at the British Embassy in The Hague, Kat helps UK health and life sciences companies to enter the Dutch market, scale up their exports and find partners for collaboration across the Netherlands.
Paul Alba is part of the sub-regional team of DIT, based in Panama and supporting Central America and the Caribbean. He leads the Healthcare, Life Sciences, Education & Financial Services
Gonzalo Grosso
Commercial and Trade Policy Officer
T: (+595) 21 614588
Gonzalo Grosso is the Country Director for the Department of International Trade at the British Embassy in Paraguay and has been in the role for over three years. Gonzalo has been working in international trade for over ten years in several sectors. Gonzalo holds a degree in International Business.
Magdalena Ociepa-Wroblewska
Director and Central Europe Lead, Healthcare and Life Sciences Exports
E: Magdalena.Ociepa-wroblewska@fcdo.gov.uk
T: (+48) 539 738 176
Magdalena is responsible for the healthcare and life science sectors in Poland. She also leads the Central Europe team with Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary as the key markets in the region where they support British companies by inviting them to participate in discussion panels and exhibit at events.
Zelia Henriques
Senior Trade and Investment Adviser
E: Zelia.Henriques@fcdo.gov.uk
T: (+351) 213 924 067
In her role as Senior Trade & Investment Adviser, Zelia supports UK companies to identify and develop business opportunities in the Portuguese market, focusing on the Technology and Life Sciences & Healthcare sectors.
Market overview:
DIT Portugal’s goal is to research and foster business and partnership opportunities for British companies wishing to access and/or expand in the Portuguese market. Priority areas within our current Life Sciences & Healthcare work include: personalised medicine, chronic disease management, assisted living technologies, remote monitoring sensors, AI and analytics for health, diagnosis, solutions for healthy ageing and clinical trials development.
Aiman Abidi:
Aiman Abidi was born in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia before moving to England in 2002.
Aiman acquired his Masters in Computer Sciences from the University of Surrey. He has since worked in the private sector for the likes of Amazon UK, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Xerox.
He joined the department for International trade in 2015 covering the Healthcare and Education sectors.
Aiman currently leads the Life sciences sector and is based at the British Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Market overview:
Saudi Arabia is the largest market in the region. Healthcare and Life sciences are priority growth sectors in KSA, and the government have increased spending on the Healthcare sector by more than 30% in the last two years.
Rachael is a member of the DIT Scotland team and she work across multiple sectors. She advises Scottish companies on how to access DIT products and services in over 100 international markets. The DIT Scotland Team is based in Edinburgh and has dedicated specialists working across the Scottish economy.
Trade and Investment Adviser at the British Embassy in Madrid. My main objectives include supporting UK companies export to Spain, encouraging Foreign Direct Investment into the UK and promoting bilateral relations between the UK and Spain.
Market overview:
Spain boasts an excellent public healthcare system which is free at point of care like the UK. The system is very similar to the UK with the GP being the gatekeeper to secondary care. The healthcare budget is devolved to the 17 autonomous regions and although the basic offer is the same, services and priorities may vary between. There is also a very strong private healthcare system which operates 100% independently from the public system. Both systems are mature and well developed.
Opportunities exisit for companies that can demonstrate that their product/service can change the patient pathway and influence outcomes. Price and demonstrated economic argument is important. Areas of particular interest: remote monitoring both in primary and secondary care, certain consumables, technologies/products that improve sustainability and lead to decarbonisation, innovative products for use in hospitals.
Senior Commercial Officer serving UK Life Sciences and healthcare sector promotion in Taiwan. With a background in Science and Biotechnology, also trained in supply chain and international industrial management, Fandy has served within the Taiwan biotechnology and semiconductors industry for 8 years. Skilled in biotechnology R&D and also experienced in business development in facing MedTech, Biopharma and Health supplements.
Bahar Aksoy Ozdinc
Head of Life Sciences and Healthcare
E: Bahar.Aksoyozdinc@fcdo.gov.uk
T: (+905) 4979 279 52
UK DIT Commercial Officer based in Turkey since September 2022. Bahar has a commercial background with 14 years of experience in Life Sciences and Healthcare Industry, particularly Medical Devices Companies such as GE Healthcare and Becton Dickinson ( BD ). Carried out Turkey as well as regional marketing and sales roles during this time.
Vincent Ramlochan
Senior Trade and Investment Advisor
E: Vincent.Ramlochan@fcdo.gov.uk
T: (+1 868) 29 937 37
Vincent is the Senior Trade and Investment Adviser with the UK's Department for International Trade (DIT) based in Trinidad and Tobago. He is the Life Sciences and Healthcare sector lead for the English Speaking Caribbean which covers Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Trinidad and Tobago. He focuses on assisting UK companies looking to export to and/or set up in the English Speaking Caribbean.
Viviana Morales
Commercial and Trade Policy Assistant
E: Viviana.Morales@fcdo.gov.uk
T: (+598) 93 332 425
Commercial & Trade Policy Assistant based at the British Embassy in Montevideo. Supports UK firms with market information, local connections and regulatory/policy issues in Uruguay. She has been on the role for +2 years and previously worked on the automotive private sector. Viviana holds a PGDip in International Trade.
Market Overview
The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) is the authority responsible for making and enforcing health regulations. State’s Health Services Administration (ASSE) is the main state provider of comprehensive health care (promotion, prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment and rehabilitation) and the authority that defines which are the products and technologies that can enter the health technology market. The National Health Plan (FONASA) provides funding to the Comprehensive Health Care Plan (SNIS), guarantying equal health coverage to all inhabitants. Because of the coverage expansion, which now reaches 2.5 million people, health spending has been rising since 2007. The average life expectancy in Uruguay reaches 81 years for women and 74.4 for men. Compared to the rest of LATAM, Uruguay has an aging society, being the average age 38 years old.
Uruguay exported £215m worth of Life Sciences products in 2021, which represented 3% of overall exports. Among the main products were dosed medicines (28%), organic surface-active agents (21%) and blood for therapeutic use and vaccines (21%). On the other hand, imports of the sector amounted to approx. £410m in 2021, which stood for around 5% of total imports. Main imported products were dosed medicines (34%), blood for therapeutic use and vaccines (19%) and reagents (12%). In 2021, the UK exported £15.6m of Life Sciences products to Uruguay, ranking 8th in terms of origin in the sector. The main goods imported from the UK were medicines (43.2%), reagents (31.7%) and human and animal blood (9.4%).
Medical equipment imports are around £58 a year, with an average of 3% of purchases made by the State and 97% by the private sector (which includes hospitals and laboratories). The size of the pharmaceutical market was £608m in 2020, 65% of which was national production. The Uruguayan pharmaceutical industry has evolved significantly in recent years: investments in the sector exceeded £161m between 2011 and 2016. Despite its small population, there are 93 pharmaceutical facilities carrying imports, representation, production, and commercialisation of medicines. According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MTSS), about 3,550 people are employed in this segment.
Given the demographic stability, the demand for pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment is expected to be steady. An ageing population and increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases are presenting challenges to the sector and the economy. This scenario requires significant investments in terms of healthcare services (highlights to primary care, home care and telehealth) and technologies (including digital health solutions, pharmaceuticals and medical devices).
Uruguay has research institutes aimed at developing cooperation projects with the international industry (mainly regional). These institutes have state-of-the-art technology and well-prepared human resources. As of 2021, there are more than 800 researchers from about 150 different academic research groups in the Pharma & Clinical research and Health Tech sectors.
Click here to download more information on Uruguay Life Sciences