We look at our plans for immediate Q1 and ask; in a divided world, where are the new markets?
There are three areas that need discussion. Turkey – is the situation really as bad as our Embassies make out? We have a meeting with the British Embassy in Ankara in January to evaluate precisely that. Plus, the emerging market in Spain; we will be with Christina Roosen of HIMSS in Barcelona, to discuss the upcoming eHealth Conference in Malta for the coming May; and finally – what about Germany and its fixed views on Brexit. Enough has already been said, but maybe the wrong things are being said?
Turkey remains alas the opportunity that has been lost. As much for the intransigence of its businessmen and the culture of never saying “no we can’t do something” to your face, as for the terrorism threat that, if it can spread to Western areas of Istanbul, it can be prevalent everywhere.
This is a pity. Whilst the Turkish ministries in Ankara are indeed a law unto themselves as far as dialogue can be – our experience is – get behind the dialogue and the key decision makers know what they are doing, particularly in healthcare, and if you have a solution that works, that fits a market need – and you can live with some reduced pricing – this is a possible future market worth considering.
Other key vendors in healthcare have been pursuing direct hospital dialogues for some time. So, is it worth it?
On balance, our jury is still out. We are prepared to give it one shot, so to say, and it only takes one to get lucky.
Spain is going to be a key market. The financial situation is better, hospitals are again looking at new solutions. There are a number of initiatives and processes with the TicSalut organisation in Barcelona. We expect that it will bear fruit to pursue these avenues, but it will take time.
UK in Europe; it is obvious from the recent “Wellness Conference for the Elderly” in Brussels just a few days ago – that Britain and UK has a special place in Europe, and that our cousins here are confused, disappointed, and even angry – that the leadership they wanted from us, has been so undermined by our own media and misguided population. The Conference was a major learning curve and proof that we have a real synergy with the lifestyle aspirations of the rest of Europe, and that we share many more intrinsic values with them than with other world areas. These are worth pursuing and developing. We came away in just a few hours with a collaboration with a Dutch innovation company, for one of our UK clients. It was fast, practical, no messing.
But there are issues; notably the intransigence we found when talking with German policy makers. Their strict vision leaves no room for compromise, and ultimately, this could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, so to say. It comes down to; just how much are we really valued?
I think we are valued a lot. But like all things in life, we need to reach out too.
