Good health, new wealth

Unlike years ago when government was responsible for providing the bulk of health care services through its network of health institutions - general hospitals, district hospitals, together with health centres and clinics, today’s health care landscape is dotted with specialist institutions, serviced by a host of medical practitioners and ancillary and support staff.

This multi-million dollar industry, fed by a host of revenue streams, including government contracts, has attracted a lot of attention and is now regarded as an important socio-economic component of the country’s social well-being and the economy.

But the runaway development of the sector has not placed proper attention to education and information and this lack is what gave birth to the U Health and Wellness Exposition, which was initially dedicated to creating healthier people and by extension healthier communities through the missing links of education and information.

Because Trinidad and Tobago has become one of the more desired business destinations in the region, more and more organisations and companies dealing with health issues have come to understand why the Exposition is so integral to their market and development strategies, because they are able through that medium, to have almost instant access to their markets.

For its edition this year, its third annual, the Health and Wellness Exposition has attracted the attention of several local private hospitals and a few large medical equipment companies and some health-related firms desirous of participating in the Exposition, scheduled for the Hyatt Regency from May 27 through 29, 2013.

Some of the exhibitors already on board include-: Seven Seas, Optometrists Today, North Eleven, Abbott Nutrition, Nestle, GNC, St Augustine Private Hospital (SAPH) the Barbados Fertility Clinic, Advanced Cardiovascular, Gulf View Medical and Guru Foods.

Partnering with the Expo’s host U The Caribbean Health Digest, are Guardian Life of the Caribbean, Westshore Medical and Guardian Media. The Ministry of Health has endorsed the event and would probably have a booth at the exposition

Because of the unhealthy state of health care in Trinidad and Tobago’s State-run health care institutions, more and more patients are resorting to using the facilities of the rapidly developing private health care sector, which is known to provide a much higher quality of service, but also at much greater cost.

The Annual U Health and Wellness Exposition has grown tremendously in the last two years and has become known as one of the most interactive exhibitor events and which has served to raise the bar on many health issues, which now affect the country.

Exhibitors on the other hand, have come to realise the Expo gives them an opportunity to showcase their products and/or services directly to potential buyers as well as the consumer, while at the same time being able to network with industry peers.

The three-day exposition is the only one of its kind in Trinidad and Tobago and was designed to educate and empower people by creating a deeper awareness of traditional and non-traditional health care products and services.

With several local and international exhibitors already on board, the U Health and Wellness Exposition provides a forum that brings together health and wellness leaders, healthy life and lifestyle solution providers, product and service companies and health food retailers. Exhibitors have the option of participating in one of five categories -: platinum, gold, silver and Exhibitor 1 and Exhibitor II. The three-day event is free to the public on the second and third days – May 28 and 29.