Dates for Healthcare Business Development Mission to Mainland China Modified

The ITA has announced that its executive-led healthcare business development mission to mainland China will take place on 16-21 October rather than on 23-28 October as originally planned. The purpose of the mission is to provide open access to mainland Chinese government health officials and introduce U.S. firms and trade associations to the mainland Chinese healthcare market, as well as assist U.S. companies to find business partners and export their products and services to the mainland. Led by the deputy secretary of commerce, the mission is intended to include representatives from U.S. companies and U.S. trade associations with members that provide high-end, innovative medical devices (especially imaging), healthcare technology equipment, innovative pharmaceuticals, hospital management or senior care management solutions, medical education or training and hospital co-operation (i.e., management and education), as well as pharmaceuticals and senior care services.

The trade mission will include one-on-one business appointments with pre-screened potential buyers, agents, distributors and joint venture partners; meetings with national and regional government officials, chambers of commerce and business groups; and networking receptions for companies and trade associations representing companies interested in expansion into the mainland Chinese market. Meetings will be offered with government authorities (such as the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the China Food and Drug Administration, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Services and the Ministry of Civil Affairs) that can address questions about policies, tariff rates, incentives, regulations and so forth.

The ITA indicates that the United States and mainland China are well positioned to share experiences and find solutions to existing problems by uniting government and private sector forces at the intersection of commerce and healthcare because they face similar challenges and possess common goals to achieve a successful healthcare ecosystem. According to the agency, as mainland China reforms its healthcare system and endeavours to create an innovative medical device and pharmaceutical industry it risks the alienation of foreign firms in the market. This trade mission will offer U.S. firms not only the opportunity to market their products and services but also to explore ways that U.S. industry can support mainland China’s efforts to reform its healthcare system through win-win bi-lateral healthcare co-operation.