On behalf of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade I welcome the participants and visitors to Zdravookhraneniye’2008, the 18th International Exhibition for Health Care, Medical Engineering and Pharmaceuticals.

Our ministry attaches great significance to the development of the health care and pharmaceutical industry. The level of equipment provision for the medical industry is a factor that both determines economic growth and influences the demographic situation and Russia’s national security. The development of the innovation-based medical and pharmaceutical industries depends on the development of both production technology and infrastructure, and requires introduction of advanced managerial and financial methods, and principles of industrial design and marketing.

At Zdravookhraneniye’2008 there will be announced the results of the Contest for Industrial Design of Medical Devices. It is common knowledge that domestic products often have high specifications but are uncompetitive on the international market both in terms of ergonomics and appearance. The contestants that include representatives of industrial design studios and student designers have created new design for real medical devices provided by domestic manufacturers.

I am positive Zdravookhraneniye’2008 will become an event for medical professionals to attend to find new business partners.

Stanislav Naumov
State Secretary,
Russian Deputy Minister
of Industry and Trade