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Suppliers flock to Africa

The exhibitor halls at the Africa Health exhibition, which took place in Johannesburg last week, allowed a grandstand view of Africa’s developing healthcare market. Suppliers told us opportunities within the continent are multiplying. And a fascinating battle is emerging for contracts and bragging rights.

Medical drones by 2017?

Delivering medical samples by drone is faster, cleaner, safer and cheaper, claims Diego Cerutti, manager of the healthcare unit at Franco-Luxembourgois logistics group, Flash. It has developed its own packaging unit and attached it to a drone with a range of 20 miles that will be tested with real samples this summer. A consortium has come together to grow the project and Flash has already received calls from interested lab groups and hospitals in France, Belgium and Luxembourg. And this is not a pipe dream – Cerutti is talking about 2017 or 2018.

Interview: Bart Diels, Managing Partner, Head of Health & Care, Gimv

Listed investment company Gimv (Euronext: GIMB) is unusual in that it covers every aspect of health – biopharma, medtech and healthcare services – with a focus on mid-caps and a Pan-European approach. It is willing to invest as little as a few million euros up to € 50m and can hold a stake for up to 10-12 years. Active in biopharma since the early eighties, it has also made several investments in healthcare services and medical technologies. So how does Mr. Diels who has worked in VC and private equity for 20 years, view healthcare services as an investment perspective?

Mediq starts strategic review

Mediq, the Advent-owned, international medicalised homecare, distributor and Dutch pharmacy chain has confirmed that it has launched a strategic review of the business. We name the division our sources say will be sold and look at recent management changes.

Van Gelder to quit Mediq

Marc van Gelder, the 52-year-old CEO of Mediq, the international distributor and direct-to-consumer medicalised homecare player, is to step down little more than a year after private equity house Advent took the group private for €775m in early 2013. His replacement has yet to be found.

UPS expands pan-European logistics

UPS has recently bought CEMELOG, a Budapest-based logistics hub specialising in medtech and pharma. We talk to Daniel Gagnon, Director of Healthcare Logistics & Strategy for UPS Europe, about the company’s strategy and the impact on distribution and healthcare services.

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