[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14445-14447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-1235]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


U.S. Healthcare Technologies Trade Mission

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice to U.S. Healthcare Technologies Trade Mission to 
Australia and New Zealand, September 12-16, 2005.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Commercial Service, Office of Global Trade 
Programs, is organizing a Healthcare Technologies Trade Mission to 
Sydney and Melbourne, Australia and to Auckland, New Zealand, September 
12-16, 2005.
    The trade mission will target the IT-healthcare sub-sector, e.g., 
electronic patient records, automated patient scheduling, telemedicine, 
but will also include other sectors within the healthcare industry.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Global Trade Programs; Room 
2012; Department of Commerce; Washington, DC 20230; Tel: (202) 482-
4457; Fax: (202) 482-0178.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGIES TRADE MISSION
Australia and New Zealand
September 12-16, 2005

Mission Statement

 I. Description of the Mission

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Commercial Service, Office of Global Trade 
Programs, is organizing a Healthcare Technologies Trade Mission to 
Sydney and Melbourne, Australia and to Auckland, New Zealand, September 
12-16, 2005.
    The trade mission will target the IT-healthcare sub-sector, e.g., 
electronic patient records, automated patient scheduling, telemedicine, 
but will also include other sectors within the healthcare industry.
    The focus of the mission will be to match participating U.S. 
companies with qualified agents, distributors, representatives, 
licensees, and joint venture partners, and where appropriate, arrange 
for appointments with government officials, in these markets. Consumers 
in Australia and New Zealand have a strong affinity for U.S. products.

II. Commercial Setting for the Mission

    Over 85 percent of medical devices and diagnostics used in 
Australia are imported, with approximately 60 percent of these products 
coming from the U.S. Other major market suppliers are the E.U. and 
Japan. The Australian medical equipment market is valued at 
approximately US$2 billion, representing about one percent of the 
global medical market.
    Australia is a mature market for medical equipment, and its high 
per capita income and sophisticated health system translate into demand 
for a broad range of cutting-edge medical equipment. As in the United 
States, Australians are educated consumers, and expect state-of-the-art 
medical treatment, which ensures continuous

[[Page 14446]]

demand for innovative medical equipment and products.
    Government policy and the provision of public health services also 
stimulate demand for medical equipment. Australia has a government-
funded healthcare system, i.e., the government (at all levels) is the 
primary purchaser of medical equipment. Public hospitals account for 
approximately 70 percent of sales of medical equipment, while 30 
percent of sales are made to the private sector. As the costs of 
maintaining a public healthcare system increase, public hospital 
administrators and medical staff are directed to choose the best 
product available, at the lowest possible cost.
    U.S. medical equipment is traditionally well received in Australia 
due to its perceived high quality. Opportunities are particularly 
strong for state-of-the-art and innovative medical equipment and 
products that can result in significant improvement in clinical 
outcomes. In particular, products that leads to faster patient 
recovery, and which reduce hospital and rehabilitation costs, are in 
demand.
    Additionally, health IT products are in demand in Australia. For 
example, the specialized application of IT that enables healthcare 
organizations to deliver better health outcomes have strong sales 
potential. Products that improve the delivery of services by reducing 
medical errors and adverse medical events, and increase patient safety 
and satisfaction, such as health information management systems, and 
patient administration and clinical information systems, are all 
experiencing growth.
    Under the Australia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, U.S. medical 
equipment continues to receive duty-free treatment. U.S. firms are also 
allowed to compete for Australia's government purchases on a 
nondiscriminatory basis.
Commercial Setting--New Zealand
    In New Zealand, 100 percent of medical devices and diagnostics are 
imported, with approximately 60 percent coming from the United States, 
30 percent from Europe, and 10 percent from Asia. The New Zealand 
medical equipment market is estimated at US$500 million.
    Major hospital expansions, upgrading and redevelopment are ongoing 
and are being undertaken in the country's most populated areas, 
Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, driving demand for medical 
equipment and services.
    New Zealand's health system is comprised of public, private and 
voluntary sectors that interact to provide and fund health care. 
Presently, approximately 80 percent of health care is publicly funded 
and is comprised of local General Practitioners that refer to 
specialists when required. The government provides free medical care to 
children under seven. The wait for non-critical surgery can be quite 
long, and private insurance is becoming quite popular. The increased 
use of privately funded facilities provides additional opportunities 
for U.S. medical exporters. Best prospects in these facilities include 
cardiac and diagnostic equipment.
    New Zealand's total health expenditure as a percentage of Gross 
Domestic Products was recently measured at approximately 9 percent and 
had increased from the previous period. The publicly funded portion of 
health expenditures comprised the bulk of this figure, and also 
increased over the same period.
    New Zealand's aging population will increase demand for facilities 
such as retirement villages with on-site hospitals that will require 
not only medical services but also medical equipment. Orthopedic and 
other musculo-skeletal conditions have become the major cause of 
disability in New Zealand, and represent areas of demand for U.S. 
medical exporters.
    As in Australia, opportunities for exporters of health IT products 
are strong. Large U.S. companies in this sector have not yet entered 
the New Zealand market, so there is unmet demand for new health IT 
technologies.

III. Goals for the Mission

    The Trade Mission's goal is to provide market entry or increased 
sales into the Australia and New Zealand markets for U.S. healthcare 
firms and/or IT firms with healthcare-related products or services, as 
well as first-hand market information and access to key government 
officials and potential business partners.

IV. Scenario for the Mission

    The trade mission will spend two days in Sydney, two days in 
Melbourne, and one day in Auckland.
    In each country, the U.S. Commercial Service will:
     Provide a market briefing highlighting opportunities in 
the healthcare technologies sector;
     Schedule one-on-one appointments with potential business 
partners for each participant.
    In Australia, the U.S. Commercial Service will:
    Arrange a hospitality event to introduce participants to key 
business and industry officials.
Timetable
Sunday, September 11, 2005
    Arrive in Sydney
Monday, September 12, 2005
    Breakfast Market Briefing in Sydney
Trade Mission Meetings in Sydney
Evening Reception
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
    Trade Mission Meetings in Sydney
Travel to Melbourne
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
    Breakfast Market Briefing in Melbourne
    Trade Mission Meetings in Melbourne
    Evening Reception
Thursday, September 15, 2005
    Trade Mission Meetings in Melbourne
Travel to Auckland
Friday, September 16, 2005
    Breakfast Market Briefing in Auckland
    Trade Mission Meetings in Auckland
Conclusion of Trade Mission

V. Criteria for Participant Selection

     Relevance of the company's business line to the mission 
scope and goals
     Potential for business in the selected markets
     Timeliness of the company's completed application, 
participation agreement, and payment of the mission participation fee
     Provision of adequate information on the company's 
products and/or services and communication of the company's primary 
objectives to facilitate appropriate matching with potential business 
partners
     Certification that the company's products and/or services 
are manufactured or produced in the United States or if manufactured/
produced outside of the United States, the product/service must be 
marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have U.S. content 
representing at least 51 percent of the value of the finished good or 
service.
    Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including 
political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection 
process.
    The mission will be promoted through the following venues: Export 
Assistance Centers and the Healthcare Team; USCS Trade Events List 
http://www.export.gov; industry newsletters; the Federal Register; 
relevant trade publications; relevant trade associations; past Commerce 
trade mission participants; various in-house and purchased industry 
lists, and on the Commerce Department trade missions calendar: http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html.

[[Page 14447]]

    Recruitment will begin immediately and will close on July 29, 2005. 
The trade mission participation fee will be US$3,500 per company. The 
participation fee does not include the cost of travel and lodging. 
Participation is open to the first 10 qualified U.S. companies. 
Applications received after that date will be considered only if space 
and scheduling constraints permit.

Contact Information

    Bill Kutson, Project Manager, U.S. Commercial Service, Global Trade 
Programs, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2012, Washington, DC 20230, 
Tel: (202) 482-2839, Fax: (202) 482-0178, E-mail: 
[email protected].

    Dated: March 14, 2005.
Nancy Hesser,
Industry Sector Manager, Office of Trade Event Programs.
[FR Doc. E5-1235 Filed 3-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P