Catalogue description Ministry of Health and Department of Health and Social Security: Supply Division: Reports of Overseas Visits

The official visits by staff of the Ministry of Health and Department of Health and Social Security Supply Division were made for a number of purposes -

to support exhibitors at trade exhibitions;

to assist the commercial departments of embassies to assess the prospects of increased exports; in response to invitations arising from interest in the British healthcare system;

to make contact with procurement and importing organisations;

to study healthcare supply systems; in response to requests from the Ministry of Overseas Development under the Technical Assistance Scheme;

to evaluate the market for the export of medical equipment and pharmaceutical products;

to obtain information about hospital building programmes;

to study the planning, organisation and operation of health services;

to open up direct channels of communications, and establish relationships with central health authorities and healthcare establishments;

to harmonise information for companies engaged in hospital buildings;

to examine the potential for participation by United Kingdom firms and in the export of health sciences, pharmaceutical products, medical technology and medical equipment.