As dynamic as it is, Canada's healthcare market is too small to sustain true economic growth in most sectors of the medical technology industry. In order to be sustainable, most companies need to court and nurture world markets. In our opinion, this can best be done by growing our businesses into the globe's emerging countries. One of these countries is mainland China, the world's largest untapped market.

This page focuses on providing you with background information about China, its healthcare market and its regulatory framework.

This section was last updated on Monday July 26, 2010.

The objectives of this mission are to introduce Ontario’s medical and assistive technologies and Healthcare IT products and solutions to China.

Mission members will exhibit at the MEDIPHAR Taipei, a premier Life Sciences event in the Asia pacific region. Prior to and after the exhibition, delegates will visit Chengdu, Nanjing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, several most important cluster hubs in China.

In each city visited, delegates will participate in business networking events and pre-arranged meetings. Delegates who seek to visit other cities will also be assisted with a tailored program of meetings.

Relationship building is particularly important in Chinese markets and whether this is your first visit to the region or a follow-up visit, the investment in meeting locally with prospective partners and customers will prove well worth the effort. 

Participation Fee
Participation fee $1,200 includes:
·    Exhibiting at the Ontario/Canada pavilion at the MEDIPHAR Taipei 2010
·    Promoting your company throughout the mission, with the Ontario/Canada brand
·    Participation in the market awareness seminars and networking events arranged in each city, hosted by MEDT, Canadian Embassy and Consulates in Greater China
·    The opportunity to give a brief presentation of your company’s products/services to an invited audience of local life sciences industry people at the seminars
·    Assistance with identifying business prospects in each of the markets visited in the region - including pre-arranged one-on-one meetings based on information provided
·    Marketing materials such as mission directory and China Mining Exhibitor directory
·     On-site logistic and post-mission follow-up support

To find out more about this mission, click here to download a pdf version of the complete mission briefing notes. PDF documents\Ontario Life Sciences Mission to Greater China 2010 - Information Package.doc

China has a comprehensive regulatory framework for the import and export, production and marketing of medical devices which foreign manufacturers must take into consideration when planning their business activities in China. At present, many medical device regulations are undergoing revisions and the trend is such that China’s medical device regulations are becoming more in line with those in developed countries.

Get the complete story by consulting the official report which provides an overview of China’s medical device regulatory framework for companies hoping to enter the China market.

Compiled by Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the report also includes recommendations for particular import and registration procedures.

Click here to access a pdf version of the 80 page report on China's regulatory framework.

Everyone is familiar with stories about companies having their products, designs or brands being stolen in China. While some of those stories are exaggerations, some are definitely true. This is why properly protecting your company's Intellectual property (IP) rights is paramount in China's highly competitive market.
Click here to access a pdf version of a document on IP Risk Mitigation in China.
 

As the world's largest untapped market, China represents an amazing opportunity for Canadian manufacturers. This is especially true when it comes to the market for medical devices.
Click here to access a pdf version of a summary of the Medical Device Market in China.

Is is too late to enter the China Market? Foreign companies have long seen China with its 1.3 billion people as a potential bonanza. But have those foreign companies who have yet to make their move missed the boat?

Indigenous companies are more entrenched

Certainly, there are signs that the China market is becoming tougher for those companies wanting to enter from outside. Indigenous Chinese companies, particularly in key sectors such as technology are increasingly competitive and have a more solidly entrenched position.

 China’s state-owned enterprises, which have benefited greatly from the country’s 4 trillion yuan stimulus package, appear to have an impregnable position as never before. There is also a sense among some of the foreign business community that regulatiins and reules are selectively applied to the advantage of Chinese companies.

Could it be that those who came to China five or even 10 or 20 years ago were the lucky ones and in the best position to benefit from any future spoils offered by the market? Edward Tse, chairman of global management consultants Booz & Co in China, based in Hong Kong, admits there there has been a recent nervousness among foreign companies. “I think ther has been a lot of talk in the international community about how businesses feel about China now.” he said.   But he added that many foreign companies now have little choice but to enter China since it is emerging as the really key market of the 21^st century.

“The great majority of companies I deal with regard it as one of the most important market in the world. if not the most important.” he said. “For most foreign companies, it is not about whether to enter China, but having the right China strategy.”  Since the reforms and opening up began in 1978, the number of foreign companies in China has grown to around 435,000, accoding to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.

Around  480 of the Fortune 500 leading companies in the world, are now in the country. When many first entered, there was very little in the way of domestic competition. In 1992, there were just 140,000 private companies in the country compared to around 6.6 million today.

US businessman Tom Melcher is someone who is unafraid of this competition and does not believe it is too late to enter China. He is chairman of American technology company Zinch’s China operations. The company, which provides an online platform for students applying to colleges or looking for scholarships, launched its operations in China this month. 

“Are we too late? Absolutely not. Is China a bad place for foreign companies? Absolutely not. It is much easier than it was five or 10 years ago.” he said. He adds that there has been a big improvement in the regulatory environment so foreign companies have amuch better understanding as to where they stand.

“The regulatory environment in China is getting much more clear than it was five years ago. Sometimes it is clear in a good way. Some it is clear in a bad way. But what is important is that it is clear. That is what business people need” he said. Melcher also says it easier for foreign companies to recruit talented people form the local workforce than it was just a few years ago. “Even if they have not had a chance to go outside of China, Chinese peole now have a much more international outlook”.

Tse at Booz and Co said that whether foreign compan entered China five or 10 years ago or now, the country has always been one of the more difficult foreign markets. “If an American company goes to Europe or a European copany goes to the US, there are differences but those differences are not as preat as when they go to China. It has the longest continuous civilizaitn in the world and the culture and thew ay of doing things is very different” he said.

This article was adapated from the pages of China Daily. The newspaper can be reached at www.chinadaily.com

China is Asia’s second largest market for medical devices. Forecast to grow by 84% between 2007 and 2012, it is expected to reach US $28 billion by 2014. While the country has made amazing progress in terms of manufacturing, Chinese capabilities in producing high-end medical devices are still lacking. Over 90% of value-added high-tech devices (70% of China’s medical device market) are foreign made.

Although the Chinese market offers great opportunities, significant challenges still exist with the registration process, distribution and Intelectual Property Rights, etc. These are all elements that Canadian manufacturers must consider when planning their business activities in China.

These challenges and other related topics will be covered in an upcoming webinar sponsored by Foreign Affairs and International Trade. To find out more about this webinar and other opportunities offered by these ministries, contact Dana Duan or go to nan.duan@international.gc.ca

Returning to Shenzhen for the 5th year in a row, CardioMed was one of 7 exhibitors at Canada's 2009 pavilion. From right to left, CardioMed President, Ross Dube is seen here with Jamal Mustafa, the company's Export Manager.

TMTA chairman, Christian Dubé, stands with Fair attendees in front of the TMTA booth at the 2009 CMEF.

Site visits and social gatherings are an intrinsic part of each mission to China. The 2009 group is seen here at a such a gathering.

One of the translators assigned to the TMTA group hams it up for the camera by flashing a peace sign. Typical of China's new generation, Linda Li is well educated, techno-savy and hip to western styles and fashions. It is anticipated that her generation will be expecting the best in terms of healthcare and medical technology.

Richard Marusyk of Vista Medical is seen here explaining his company's products to CMEF visitors.

The Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre where the CMEF takes place is one of the largest in the world. A large red banner marks the entrance to the Fair.

The entrance to the CMEF exhibition hall. Like everything else in Shenzhen, this facility is brand new and designed to accommodate huge crowds.



Eager to promote its new technology centre, the town of Markham was a key participant and co-sponsor of the 2009 Mission. John Livey, the Chief Administration Officer for Markham chats with a Fair visitor.  
 

Opening ceremony at the CMEF: a rapt crowd composed of attendees from all over the globe is waiting for the exhibition to start.

One view of the CMEF halls. The exhibition is Asia's most important medical technology trade show. Exhibitors from around the globe vie for attention from audiences from China, Asia and the rest of the world.

Sporting plenty of red maple leaves, Canada's pavilion is showing off our best: Globally focused medical technology companies make a point of using it as a venue to feature their best achievements.

Standing in the Canada Pavilion, Vera Dube, Vice-president of CardioMed chats with Linda the translator. Eager to learn all she could about Canada, Linda had many questions to ask about our country and its people.

Getting to know the locals: Nothing beats actually being on location. TMTA chairman, Christian Dubé is seen here with two chief cardiovascular surgeons from the hospital in the city of Tianjin during the 2005 Mission.