French Healthcare Day 2023: Boosting Healthcare Ties With Mexico

Q: What is the role of Business France and the French Healthcare brand in Mexico’s healthcare sector and how does that translate to business growth in both countries?

A: Business France has a pronounced commitment to the healthcare sector in Mexico, notably showcased through the innovative French Healthcare brand. This pioneering initiative operates Clubs in 13 countries as a collaborative platform, uniting diverse stakeholders within the French healthcare realm, including businesses, researchers, healthcare professionals and key public entities. Their unified goal is to promote French activities, expertise, technologies and innovations in healthcare on a global scale, fostering a cooperative dynamic. It is a unique initiative from a foreign government and it helps branches and local representatives of French healthcare products to navigate better the local challenges.

Bolstered by key entities and with support from the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the influence of the French Healthcare initiative extends to a wide array of partners, encompassing medical enterprises, investors and hospitals. The sector's significance encompasses both French businesses established in Mexico and local enterprises aspiring to expand operations into the EU (our Choose France program). It serves as a facilitator of international partnerships, tailored solutions and professional development, all within the context of a dynamically evolving global healthcare landscape.

Particularly noteworthy is the surge in interest from French companies operating in Mexico — whose presence has risen by more than 300% in the last 6 years. Within this context, Business France assumes a pivotal role. Our contribution encompasses fostering a nuanced comprehension of the market, pinpointing strategic prospects and ensuring secure market entry. This multifaceted approach significantly aids in nurturing fruitful collaborations and bridging the global healthcare panorama. There are three key activities at Business France: promoting export, promoting investment and promoting the International Mission in Companies of young professionals, called VIE. For us, Success Stories are the way we measure our impact. So when a company helped by our team, signs a new distribution contract thanks to our targeting of potential representatives, making the medical device available for Mexican patients and creating new jobs with an International Intern in Mexico, it gives our job and life meaning.

Q: How does French Healthcare, through its initiatives, focus on women’s health and work to improve their medical well-being?

A: Marianne México stands as a clear testimony to the significance of the movement driving women's empowerment. This association, supported by the French ambassador, seeks to amplify the endeavors of executive women in both Mexico and France, making substantial contributions to advancing gender equality. Within the domain of French healthcare, a clear and resonant alignment with this movement emerges, underpinned by governmental policy and the collaborative synergy of clusters.

A pivotal example is the establishment of Femtech, an initiative introduced in 2022. This platform zeroes in on medical devices and pharmaceutical products meticulously formulated specifically based on women's healthcare needs. The central objective revolves around fostering awareness among healthcare professionals and academics concerning the unique paths women navigate in terms of health. Frequently unknown or under-documented health conditions prompt a critical reevaluation of the existing knowledge landscape.

This approach is reaffirmed in activities aimed at augmenting visibility and awareness. The French Healthcare Day 2023, positioned as a hub for collective discourse, keeps its promise in this regard. Tech companies, in alignment with this initiative, have been cordially invited to enrich the conversation through collaborative engagement with the taskforce, by promoting gender equality through an equal number of women and men speakers.

Q: How easy has it been in France to transition to a digital healthcare model and what pitfalls have you faced?

A: Digital health holds a paramount position for the French government, marked by a notable transition to a robust digital healthcare framework. Over three years, the Ministry of Health has turned an e-health roadmap into tangible services and a robust data-sharing structure. This transformation encompasses fast-track market access for digital therapeutics and cross-Europe clinical evaluations of health apps. In 2022, a pivotal milestone was reached with the completion of the flagship e-health roadmap, creating an ecosystem conducive to healthcare innovation.

The "Accelerating the e-Health shift" strategy introduced in 2019 focuses on shared medical records for universal health coverage, accessible through the “My Health Space” platform. The broader context includes data exchange within the European Health Data Space, aligning with European ambitions during the French presidency of the EU Council. France opted for incremental advancements, recognizing the dynamism of technology and evolving priorities. This approach brings early benefits and aligns with evolving digital transformation directions.

Acknowledging the challenges of long-term e-health projects, France's experience highlights the importance of adaptability. To facilitate healthcare innovation, the Post-COVID Recovery & Resilience Plan allocates €600 million (US$645 million) to remove barriers while customizing implementation in the national health market. This represents an opportunity for Europe to support healthcare innovation, bridging the gap and becoming a hub for digital health startups.

Q: French Healthcare Day 2023 is on the horizon. What does it aim to accomplish this year? 

A: The fifth edition of the French Healthcare Day 2023 aims to strengthen healthcare collaboration between France and Mexico, with a primary focus on oncology. France's prominent role in European cancer care, backed by a robust research foundation in areas like immunology and targeted therapies, serves as a cornerstone for this initiative. At the core of this effort lies an ambitious 10-year cancer strategy, striving to reduce preventable cases by 40% by 2040. This strategy is supported by a substantial budget increase of €1.74 billion (US$1.88 billion) over five years, with a significant portion dedicated to research. 

A sign of France’s commitment to oncology research is its strong presence in clinical trials in the field, ranking second in the EU and fourth globally.

The event also has specific goals, including expanding cancer screening, improving post-diagnosis outcomes, enhancing patient quality of life and increasing survival rates, particularly for challenging cancer types. 

Beyond its borders, France actively shares its healthcare expertise, collaborating with international partners and offering training programs for healthcare professionals. The event's significance is highlighted by the support of the French Investment Bank, which is willing to finance the participation of innovative companies, particularly those focused on technology and diagnostics. 

Q: Why is this event taking place in Mexico? 

A: The choice of hosting this event in Mexico arises from the country’s significant role for the French business community. Mexico has a substantial presence of French companies, both in terms of numbers and influence. Furthermore, Mexico stands as a driving force for the economies of Latin America, alongside Brazil.

This annual event serves as a pivotal gathering within the Franco-Mexican ecosystem. It provides a platform for extensive exchange of ideas and best practices between the two countries. While traditionally a physical event, it has also expanded its reach through streaming platforms in Spanish and French, enhancing visibility across Spanish-speaking nations.

The event's history is marked by steady growth, with French companies, the French government, and the French Embassy all showing increasing interest and support. Over the years, it has evolved into a crucial event showcasing French-Mexican collaboration. The event's topics have ranged from healthcare and cosmetics to diabetes and nutrition, emergency care and the silver economy. Importantly, it has extended its reach to other Latin American countries, fostering broader collaborations and knowledge-sharing.

Q: What distinct networking opportunities will the event provide? 

A: The event is designed to offer attendees exclusive networking opportunities of significant value. It is thoughtfully curated to attract professionals, academics and C-level executives who stand to gain valuable market insights that would likely be out of reach  otherwise. 

The range of networking possibilities and potential collaborations comprises the facilitation of diverse opportunities, such as French companies exploring business partnerships with local collaborators, distributors and importers. Additionally, the event will nurture research collaborations, leveraging the participation of prestigious French research centers and experts. Furthermore, Mexican universities will seize the opportunity to establish academic alliances with their French counterparts through invitations and interactive engagements. Lastly, the event will actively promote cluster partnerships, providing a favorable platform for French clusters and experts to partake in joint and collaborative ventures.