15th National Conference on Health Economy

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Once again this year, more than 700 experts and professionals from the health sector are gathering in Rostock-Warnemünde to address key current issues, engage in critical discussions and venture future scenarios. It is our pleasure to be partnering this year's event with Norway.

This 15th National Conference on Health Economy will be illuminating the topic of "The Economization of Health" from a variety of perspectives. While "Health comes first" may be one of today's popular catch phrases, we need to ask ourselves: How close is this concept to reality? Or, put differently, how far is it removed from wishful thinking? Will patients increasingly be transformed into customers and health into a commodity? What constitutes economical management? What needs to reap a return? What are acceptable prices? These are issues that equally challenge primary care physicians and specialists on the one hand and hospitals and patients on the other. Our conference will seek to explore these and other relevant dimensions such as cross-sector care, staffing in the healthcare industry, and the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence.

I am looking forward to stimulating debates with your input! I cordially invite you to come to Rostock-Warnemünde and make your contribution. You and your ideas will be very welcome!

Yours,
Manuela Schwesig
Minister President of the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern/Germany

Both Norway and Germany have to cope with the same current and future challenges, such as demographic change or the shortage of skilled workers. Therefore, our conference offered very good opportunities to exchange views with experts from both countries and to present the solutions developed in each case.

Norway's entire private healthcare sector generated total revenues of NOK 147 billion (approx. EUR 15 billion) in 2017, of which the companies that develop and manufacture medical products alone accounted for NOK 57 billion (approx. EUR 5.9 billion). Since 2014, the annual growth rates of the industry have more than doubled from less than NOK 2 billion (approx. EUR 200 million) to more than NOK 4 billion (> EUR 400 million) per year. In 2017, exports already accounted for NOK 25 billion (approx. EUR 2.6 billion) of the Norwegian healthcare industry's total turnover, and exports will play an important role in the industry's continued growth. The health industry, i.e. the companies that develop and produce solutions for the health industry, employed approximately 12,000 people in 2016. The health and care sector is the most research-intensive industry in Norway, ahead of the energy and oil/gas industries. In 2015, approximately NOK 10 billion (approximately EUR 1 billion) was invested in research and development. Approx. NOK 6 billion (more than EUR 600 million) was funded by universities and colleges, making it clear that the Norwegian government is strongly committed to the further development of the sector for the future.

norwegian exhibitors