It is billed as one of the world's largest trade exhibition involving medical and healthcare products. If nothing else, Medica 2003 has done much more than merely live up to this reputation. With 4100 companies from 69 countries exhibiting their products, the Medica fair has proved a feast for approximately 35,000 visitors that thronged its gates every day.

From huge companies like GE Medical Systems and Siemens with sprawling stalls almost the size of tennis courts to small companies hawking a new kind of massage tub, everyone has had something to take back from the exhibition.

One or two products are quite exotic. There is for example an Israeli team with a device that filters out the unpleasant smells that can often assault the senses at the site of a major fire or other tragedy. It is also useful in an Operating Room or a surgical ward, where a particularly badly infected wound has to be dressed. 'If you are working all day in that kind of atmosphere, you may also need to eat your meals or sleep in the same place, which you can't do if the stench is too nauseating,' said Henry Farber, the marketing manager of the company.

From India there are 71 exhibitors, including Ultrasonic Electronic which manufacturers gadgets for various forms of physiotherapy like TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) and Dr Daftary whose company is dealing with orthopedic implants.

Next year there may be some more. At a joint meeting with Medica 2003 project manager, Mr Christian Bigge, and Mr Xavier Rebello of Cidex, at least two members of the Indian delegation expressed a keen interest in returning to the Medica 2004 as exhibitors.

Welcoming the group, Mr Bigge said that the management of Messe Dusseldorf was working closely with partners in India and China to ensure even better participation in the coming years. H also said that visits to some German hospitals could be organized during the Medica in future, if the delegates were keen on it.