MEDICA

The medical technology fair of Düsseldorf

MEDICA began in 1969 as a diagnostics week in Karlsruhe, moved to Düsseldorf in the early 1970s and took its current name in 1974. Organised by Messe Düsseldorf every November, it is now one of the largest medical trade fairs in the world, held alongside COMPAMED, the fair for the suppliers of the medical technology industry. Together they fill the Düsseldorf fairground for four days.

The halls cover medical devices and equipment, diagnostics and laboratory, imaging, physiotherapy and orthopaedics, disposables, and digital health and IT. Visitors are hospital buyers and managers, doctors, distributors and importers from many countries, and the medical industry itself. Many exhibitors come primarily to meet distributors for their export markets.

Planning your participation

Health is a regulated market, and your contacts expect precise information. Prepare the documents you will be asked for, certifications, product sheets and regulatory status by market, and attach the main one to your campaign so it can go out with the follow-up.

Düsseldorf hotels are in high demand during the fair, and many exhibitors stay in Cologne or other nearby cities with a direct train connection. In your form, ask the questions that sort a medical contact: role (distributor, hospital, practitioner, industry), country or market, product area and timing. Give each person on the stand their own link, so distributors are followed up by the person who met them.

On the floor

International visitors often hand over cards or carry badges with their details. Photograph them in trade show mode, tick the market and the role, and add a note on the products and the volumes discussed. For visitors who prefer to fill the form themselves, a QR code on the stand or a visitor tablet works without a salesperson.

Personal data deserves care in this sector. Record the visitor's consent when your team captures them, and keep the contacts in one register hosted in the European Union rather than in personal phones and spreadsheets.

After the show

Distributors evaluate several suppliers after MEDICA, so a fast and complete follow-up makes a difference. Send the documents they need for their market within the week, propose a call to discuss terms, and agree on the next step. Hospital and practitioner contacts usually need a different path, often through a local distributor; sort them before sending.