(03/2021) The ZMT (Central Association of medical-technical retailers, manufacturers, service providers and consultants) is firmly rooted in medical-technical retailers. This is also reflected in the association's political orientation. The MT specialist trade is confronted with major challenges in terms of its market policy performance. Corona additionally exacerbates the dangerous situation. The ZMT faces the challenges aggressively. This became clear in the editorial meeting with ZMT CEO Tibbeke Neumann and ZMT Managing Director Uwe Behrens.
The ZMT annual conference 2021 would normally begin in Cologne in a few days. Nothing will come of this because of the corona pandemic. A novelty in the long history of the ZMT. How do you deal with it emotionally?
Uwe Behrens: Clearly, for me it is a novelty after 33 years that there are no annual conferences or information days. But it was foreseeable that there would be no face-to-face meeting in 2021. It's a shame, even if we had to get used to a lot in various lockdowns. We know how from the member companies
It is important to get together and to have conversations at such an event.
The ZMT already canceled the conference in November of last year with wise foresight. A digital alternative program is now being used. An online event on the MDR took place at the end of January. What other online events is the ZMT planning for this year instead of the canceled conference? What are the main topics?
Behrens: The topics originally planned for the Info Days 2021 were only classic lectures to a limited extent. Individual topics and speakers live from presence and are not easy to transport virtually, so they cannot really be implemented online. But when the conference was canceled, we agreed to keep in touch with and among the members in regional video conferences. This gives the board and management the opportunity to report directly on the status of the projects and to respond to questions from members. We are thus continuing the good old tradition of regional meetings. In North Rhine-Westphalia we will soon hold a first conference for specialist dealers; other such events will follow nationwide.
The ZMT mainly represents the interests of the medical technology specialist trade and the specialist trade-loyal suppliers. How is the current membership structure of the association?
Tibbeke Neumann: Loyal to specialist dealers sounds a bit antiquated and certainly no longer reflects the general market conditions. The membership structure has actually remained unchanged for years: around two thirds trading companies and one third manufacturers. But the boundaries have become fluid, at least from the manufacturer's point of view. Today, manufacturers are sometimes also on the move as dealers - either directly or through acquired trading companies. That doesn't make the association's work any easier. It is becoming more and more difficult to define clear interests and positions.
The management bodies of the association were reduced in terms of personnel on the occasion of the 2020 annual conference, and a multi-person advisory board was established. Which responsibilities are currently assigned to which shoulders? How is the advisory board composed, which topics are covered?
Neumann: The quantitative reduction de
