New Delhi, June 2024 – Hungary was the partner country at this year’s India Health 2024, held for the first time at the IICC Dwarka Convention Center in New Delhi. Organized by Informa Markets, the creators of the globally renowned healthcare exhibition Arab Health, India Health 2024 saw participation from four innovative Hungarian companies with long-standing traditions in diagnostics, oncotherapy, nuclear medicine, and medical devices.
Hungarian Contributions and Innovations
The Hungarian National Booth featured companies with extensive experience in the Indian market, as well as those entering the world’s largest and fastest-growing healthcare market for the first time. Among the notable participants was Richter Themis Medicare Pvt. Ltd, a joint venture between Hungary’s largest pharmaceutical company, Richter Gedeon, and its Indian partner, Themis.
In his opening speech, HE Ambassador István Szabó highlighted Hungary’s significant contributions to global healthcare, noting the country’s high number of Nobel laureates, including Albert Szent-Györgyi, the discoverer of vitamin C, and Katalin Karikó, who played a crucial role in the development of mRNA vaccines at BioNTech. Szabó emphasized Hungary’s strong focus on innovation, with a third of the country’s manufacturing R&D expenditure dedicated to the health sector, and its robust pharmaceutical industry, which is a major exporter within Central and Eastern Europe.
Panel Discussions and Networking
The Hungarian companies had the opportunity to present their success stories, challenges, and best practices in the panel discussion “Market Entry in Healthcare in India: Success Stories, Challenges, Best Practices,” moderated by Vivek Stiegell of Apeejay Stya & Svran Group. The panel included representatives from Gedeon Richter Ltd., 77 Electronics, Oncotherm, Medi-Radiopharma, and Medicor, showcasing their varied experiences and innovative solutions.
Strategic Collaborations and Future Prospects
The event underscored Hungary’s commitment to forging strong ties with India in the healthcare sector. Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Director of Informa Markets India, and Mr. Levente Kardos, Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of Hungary, welcomed Hungarian companies and local stakeholders at the opening of the National Booth. Mariann Erdő, Director of the Liszt Institute of Delhi, announced the upcoming New Delhi premiere of a film on Ignác Semmelweis, a Hungarian physician and scientist who pioneered antiseptic procedures.
Prior to the exhibition, an India-Hungary business roundtable on healthcare was held at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) headquarters in New Delhi. The roundtable facilitated B2B meetings with Indian distributors, industry experts, and healthcare consultants. The delegation also visited the BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital of MAX Healthcare, consulting with leading experts in diagnostics, oncology, and nuclear medicine.
Conclusion
The participation of Hungarian companies at India Health 2024 highlights the potential for collaboration between Hungary and India in the healthcare sector. The event, organized by the Embassy of Hungary in New Delhi and supported by the NEXT KPI program of Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, marks a significant step towards enhancing bilateral relations and advancing healthcare innovations.