Show you’re in top health

Sep 11 2008 by Paul Gannon, Evening Gazette

HEALTHCARE firms on Teesside are being urged to enter a regional awards scheme promoting the best in business.

Run by Cels, the organisation promoting the North-east healthcare sector, which includes big-hitters such as GlaxoSmithKline at Barnard Castle and Avecia Biologics at Billingham, the Business for Life Awards 2008 cover export achievement; outstanding growth; innovation; partnership with the NHS; and business start-up.

Last year’s star exporter was Hartlepool’s Hart Biologicals, which manufactures and supplies biological reagents for the monitoring of blood coagulation disorders, oral anticoagulants and anti-platelet drugs in doctors’ surgeries, laboratories and hospitals. Over the past five years, overseas sales have grown from just 1% to represent nearly a third of the business today.

Regional category winners are automatically entered into the Medilink UK National Awards, which recognise the country’s most innovative healthcare companies.

Cels supports advancements in assisted technology, re-generative medicine, such as stem cell research, and health informatics.

The pharma industry in total is worth $21.9bn to the UK economy - much of it generated in the North-east.