Interview with Mr Toshio Takiguchi, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canon Medical Systems Corporation


Showcasing connected solutions
Having recently announced the official opening of Canon Medical Systems Corporation’s Middle East Division in Dubai, Toshio Takiguchi, President and Chief Executive Officer, shares that the company is thrilled to be on the ground at Arab Health 2020, and hopes to meet with valued customers and showcase 40 years of innovation and experience in this dynamic and diverse region. Excerpts from the interview.

1. How long have you worked in the healthcare industry? 
I have dedicated my life to Canon Medical Systems Corporation for the last 40 years, and I will continue to do so for as long as I am able. I believe in the traditional Japanese employment style, which requires life-long loyalty to one company.

2. As an exclusive Arab Health 2020 partner, what innovations will you be bringing to the show?
Arab Health 2020 is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase our latest AI innovations. We have been working hard to create a new generation of Deep Learning Reconstruction technologies for CT and MR, so that our customers can benefit from excellent high-resolution image quality without compromising on speed, dose, safety or efficiency. Visitors will be able to explore all these innovations, namely our Advanced intelligent Clear IQ Engine (AiCE), at the Canon Medical booth.

3. Connectivity for better healthcare delivery is the theme of Arab Health 2020. What would you say is the current impact of connectivity? 
The modern world presents the global healthcare industry with a number of challenges associated with cost, quality, access and efficiency. To help solve these issues, we have created a range of connected solutions, under the term “Collaborative imaging”, which aim to improve patient outcomes, and boost the clinical, financial and operational value on offer to our customers.

4. What are the main healthcare trends to watch out for in 2020?
I believe the world’s uncertain economy will have an impact on our industry in 2020. As such, the main trends will be around improving patient outcomes while minimizing cost. 

5. Could you shed some light on your future plans?
In addition to improving our business results through the organic growth of our medical imaging product lines, we will be expanding in two main directions. Firstly, we will be building on our Information Communications Technology to improve the provision of data, analytics and decision solutions to support patient pathways. Secondly, we will be investigating baseline technologies in the Bio Sciences to contribute to earlier disease detection and diagnosis so more precise medical treatments can be implemented. 

6. Is there anything else you would like to add?
The 2019 Rugby World Cup opened on September 20 at Tokyo Stadium. Japan's national team, known as the Brave Blossoms, overcame the pressure of the opening match, beating a physically stronger Russian team. They then went on to win an historic victory against Ireland (ranked second in the world), implementing a carefully considered game plan with hard tackling. 

During the Rugby World Cup 2019, Canon Medical Systems hosted a "Global Sports Medicine Forum". We invited world-leading specialists in sports medicine, including experts from FC Barcelona, to introduce their findings related to the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of elite athletes. We would like to deliver the latest information related to diagnostic techniques for muscle, tendon, and ligament damage at the ultrasound section of our booth.