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Serge Bernasconi

Chief Executive Officer, MedTech Europe

Mr Bernasconi has 40 years’ experience in the world of pharmaceuticals, medical technology and trade association leadership. He has worked in senior leadership position in companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Schering Plough (now Merck), and Medtronic. He has exercised his leadership in various geographical areas around the world, including, the US, Europe (France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland), Turkey, the Middle East and Africa.

Throughout his career he has been involved in trade association activities and responsibilities both for the pharmaceutical industry and the MedTech Industry. Prior to become the CEO of Eucomed and EDMA and then MedTech Europe, he had been elected President of APIDIM (The French Association for the Promotion of Innovation in Medical Devices), and Vice President and Treasurer of SNITEM (French Medical Technology Industry Association).

34 blogs from the author

Fotolia_52804124_Subscription_Monthly_M
Business Value

Posted on 23.07.2013

Have we got a speaker for you! Now you really cannot afford not to register for the MedTech Forum

A surprising few things have happened lately. Firstly, the weather in Belgium CAN be nice and pleasing to a Franco-Italian such as myself. Secondly, the ENVI Committee vote that was scheduled to take place on 10 July was postponed to 18 September for both the Medical Devices and In Vitro Diagnostics Directives. If I did not know better, one could think this date was chosen to coincide with our housewarming reception. All joking aside, my third surprise was the realisation that we’re already in mid-July, and it’s been a year since I’ve joined MedTech Europe, EDMA and Eucomed. Going into everything that has happened would take me too far this time, but I will reflect on the past year in my next blog, so look out for that to come out mid-August.

By Serge Bernasconi Chief Executive Officer, MedTech Europe

Healthcare expenses
Business Value

Posted on 20.06.2013

Medtech as a cost driver… or not?

Nowadays everyone seems convinced of the clinical benefits that medical technologies, devices and diagnostics, bring to the table. Many even recognise that our innovations bring about considerable socio-economic benefits. And yet, in the end I hear the same thing over and over again: medical technology drives the rise in healthcare expenditure.
EDMA and Eucomed have always refuted this claim and now we have research by the European Health Technology Institute (EHTI) which basically confirms two of our points of view:

By Serge Bernasconi Chief Executive Officer, MedTech Europe

cloudybrussels
Business Value

Posted on 23.05.2013

New rules, new markets – medical devices and diagnostics’ place in a changing Europe

Judging by the weather in Belgium (currently 10° and raining) you wouldn’t say it, but it’s almost summer. Well, at least according to the calendar. And apart from the supposed good weather, summer also brings with it a host of new information on the MedTech Forum. Speakers are being confirmed, registrations coming in and preparations being made. Less than 5 months from now, we will all be seeing each other again at the event no one in our industry can afford to miss. So what does the MedTech Forum hold in store this year.

By Serge Bernasconi Chief Executive Officer, MedTech Europe

Regulatory revision
Regulation Value

Posted on 24.04.2013

Getting regulation right for in vitro diagnostics and medical devices

It’s been a busy two weeks at the Parliament once again, with the release of both the draft report for the revision of the Medical Devices Directives (MDD) and that for the In Vitro Diagnostics Directives (IVDD) revision. Last Monday, EU Parliament Rapporteur Dagmar Roth-Behrendt published her draft report on the revision of the MDD. Although not surprised, we of course regret to see proposals such as a shift to centralised pre-market authorisation. This US-like system will not bring about the necessary additional patient safety and actually risks hindering patients in their access to lifesaving devices because of unnecessary delays in these devices becoming available to them.

By Serge Bernasconi Chief Executive Officer, MedTech Europe

European Parliament
Regulation Value

Posted on 20.03.2013

A tale of two workshops – A lively day at the European Parliament ENVI hearing

By now most of you will have noticed that we have launched our “Don’t Lose the 3”-campaign. (If you haven’t, watch the 1-minute video and patient stories here. The basic message of the campaign is that, thanks to our decentralised approval system for medical devices in Europe, Europeans have access to life-saving and life-enhancing technologies three to five years before US patients without compromising safety. This is also the message I brought forward during the 26 February hearing of the ENVI committee at the European Parliament.

By Serge Bernasconi Chief Executive Officer, MedTech Europe

Time for revision
Regulation Value

Posted on 22.02.2013

All about meetings and events these days: ENVI hearing, Personalised Medicine and the 2013 MedTech Forum

“First one down”… And I have to admit that I was pleased to read all your positive feedback and comments. This really gives me the enthusiasm to do even better in this second blog. If there is one thing I’ve learned from this whole process, it is that starting a new blogpost is like having to wake up in the morning: at first when the alarm is still buzzing you wish you didn’t have to, but once you get that first leg out of bed, you’re happy you did and everything else sort of follows from that first step.

By Serge Bernasconi Chief Executive Officer, MedTech Europe

Star blogging
Value

Posted on 28.01.2013

What to expect from EDMA, Eucomed and MedTech Europe in 2013

Only a few days ago, I heard those words for the first time. Me? Writing a blog? Hmmm, ok, there could be an opportunity here… And now I am looking at a blinking cursor inviting me to put down a few thoughts and ideas.
Well, why don’t I start by answering a few questions “Why now? Why not 3-4 months ago, Serge? How often can we expect to read your posts? And what will you be talking about?”

By Serge Bernasconi Chief Executive Officer, MedTech Europe