The clinical laboratory industry within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is estimated to be a lucrative and fast-growing sector showing many developmental opportunities for market expansion. This can be attributed to the presence of developing economies such as South Africa and Botswana, as well as the rising burden of diseases and favourable government policies within the region.
With the South African medical laboratory services market valued at US$ 1.68 billion in 2018 and an expected year-on-year growth of 3.5 per cent, there has been a rising interest in the industry both regionally and globally.
In order to meet the needs of the laboratory industry and to create a platform to enable discussion around Afrocentric laboratory issues, Medlab Africa is launching this year. The event is co-located with Africa Health and takes place between May 28 to 30 at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa. The developments within the laboratory landscape makes Medlab Africa the ideal environment for buyers and sellers to connect and engage in the country which is known as having one of the world’s leading healthcare infrastructures.
Medlab Africa will provide attendees with an opportunity to explore a dedicated showcase of the latest products, services and technologies in medical laboratory and a chance to create and manage relationships with new vendors and suppliers in this growing market. The exhibition will offer visitors the chance to engage with 80 plus specialist companies including BMS, Randox, Mindray and Fujifilm, while networking with more than 10,500 laboratory and trade professionals attending the show.
Ryan Sanderson, Africa Health and Medlab Africa’s Exhibition Director says: “The power of an event like Africa Health is that it brings the entire healthcare ecosystem together. Launching Medlab Africa alongside Africa Health is a very welcomed step to bringing healthcare and diagnostic professionals closer together in an environment that can only improve patient outcomes across Sub-Saharan Africa.”
Committed to supporting the education of all faculty and medical lab professionals, the event will host Africa’s only CPD-accredited multi-disciplinary medical laboratory congress. It offers two accredited conference tracks that focus on core lab and specialist lab units along with infectious disease.
This year’s congress is being led by a strong scientific committee, ensuring that current issues and innovation are at the centre of all programmes. The conferences are endorsed by associations such as the Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists of South Africa (SMLTSA) and South African Society of Clinical Cytology (SASCC). Furthermore, proceeds from the conferences will be donated to The Reach for a Dream Foundation charity.
Laboratory Medicine Conference
This newly developed conference will cover the latest developments and initiatives in diagnostics, disease surveillance and laboratory management. It features several well-rounded sessions targeted towards professionals in the field.Taking place over the course of two days, this conference will bring together clinical laboratory professionals from all disciplines covering topics ranging from molecular diagnostics to haematology.
As part of the conference, attendees can discuss the importance of lab accreditation in ensuring the quality of results. They can also participate in reviewing strategies to increase the number of clinical decisions based on results, analyse new methodologies for diagnosing malaria, and evaluate innovations in clinical diagnostics.
Infectious Diseases Conference
The new one-day Infectious Diseases Conference will host high profile speakers and provide exposure to vital issues that might not get as much coverage as they should, such as the under-diagnosed hepatitis E virus in the region. The agenda is designed to provide delegates with the latest information in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of a range of significant infectious diseases. The scope of the presentations will deliver up-to-date information for all medical professionals in the focal area of infectious disease.
For more info visit www.africahealthexhibition.com/medlab-africa/en/home.html