Like many of you, MEDTEQ+ is following the news closely to understand the impact of recent decisions by the new American administration on our Canadian healthcare technology industry.

Even before the announcement of these threats to our companies’ exports, we must remember that acquiring Canadian technological innovations in Canada was at the heart of our concerns to fulfill our mandate to support commercialization.

At the dawn of this turbulent period, MEDTEQ+ adds its voice to that of many political and business figures to encourage the redeployment of our economy in sectors where we can develop a competitive advantage.

We believe it is important to act on three main fronts to build a strong economy for Quebec and Canada.

Firstly, we must continue to encourage innovation in all priority sectors of our economy, so that our companies become strong and can open to international markets with cutting-edge, quality products. We must continue to support local companies through various programs, invest in critical phases of development, introduce incentives for local purchasing, and above all facilitate and accelerate these technological acquisitions for the good of all. For the life sciences sector, focusing on innovation in healthcare also means working with our researchers, clinical partners and Canadian companies to develop technologies that meet the real health needs of Canadian populations.

Secondly, as the world’s 8th largest medical technology market, Canada has everything it takes to position itself as a leader in this sector, and to pursue rich collaborations with various international partners. The global market for healthcare technologies is experiencing strong growth, driven by the challenge of meeting the arising needs of the aging populations and the prevalence of chronic diseases. In Canada, the health technology sector represents almost 1,500 companies, supporting nearly 35,000 highly skilled jobs, not to mention the generation of expertise and knowledge. Although it is not currently considered a key sector in the same way as other industries, long-term investment in the health technology sector could enable us to develop a niche for the future, and the ecosystem we support is already there.

Quebec has two key sectors that could be game changers in the digital transformation of healthcare: artificial intelligence and quantum technology. Could these sectors serve as pillars for a Canadian industry that leads the world?
We’re convinced they could.

Thirdly, over the past 12 years, MEDTEQ+ has been at the forefront of success stories of technologies developed here and implemented in healthcare facilities across Canada that can make a real difference to our healthcare networks, our patients and our economy. Thanks in part to our 265 members and governments, we have supported the implementation of over 450 innovations, trained 775 students and generated more than 500 publications.

Sometimes we have to see challenges as opportunities. We believe that we must seize this opportunity to break down the barriers between provinces while respecting each jurisdiction’s competencies and consolidating our Canadian market. Together, we can accelerate the integration of innovations, adapt them to the needs of all communities, and draw inspiration from what’s being done across the country to adopt the most relevant innovations. By doing so, we not only improve the quality of care, we also build a strong market with mature technologies that have been proven to work, and that will finally reach the market.

We have the edge. We are fortunate to be able to rely on public and private networks to support validation and generate evidence, thanks to the many leading experts across all research centers across Canada.

In conclusion, in addition to being a potential key sector for Canada, the health technology sector can greatly improve healthcare in all provinces. More concretely, it can increase efficiency and help reduce the budgetary burden associated with healthcare, by facilitating rapid access to better diagnostic tools, contributing to prevention and supporting the population in the self-management of their care. It’s an economic sector that can have a double impact, supported by a vast and dynamic ecosystem.

We will continue to mobilize this collective strength to facilitate knowledge transfer and technology integration. MEDTEQ+ invites and encourages government authorities to maintain, and even increase, funding projects in this sector. MEDTEQ+ is therefore calling on its entire ecosystem to increase mobilization, accelerate the sharing of expertise and accentuate collaboration.

We will pursue our mission and continue supporting the major orientations deployed in this direction.

François Bastien, Chairman of the Board, MEDTEQ+
Annie-Kim Gilbert, Chief Executive Officer, MEDTEQ+