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.
Speaking of looking out for things, I am really looking forward to this year’s MedTech Forum. And I can already let you in on our latest confirmed speaker: Commissioner Neven Mimica. We are very pleased and would like to thank the Commissioner for agreeing to speak during the 11 October session on “Views and outlook for the medical devices and diagnostics industry”. This session will look at the future of both industries from a medtech value perspective. Another topic that will definitely be picked up again is that of our industry’s strategy, which was also tackled during our 4 July CEO Roundtable event. 52 Chief Executives, together with McKinsey and Korn Ferry discussed the direction in which the medtech industry should be heading. At the MedTech Forum, we will go further into the question of where we as an industry want to go and how our new business models can help us get there. As this is a critical question, a joint report by Boston Consulting Group and MedTech Europe will be launched at the MedTech Forum which will answer just that question.
If you haven’t registered yet, there really is no better time to do it than now (http://www.medtechforum.eu). With these years workshops proving very popular, these are the workshops you will nót be able to take part in this year:
- The new reality of Market Access in Europe, on the consequences of EUnetHTA for the development and market access of Medical Devices and Diagnostics in the next 3 to 5 years
- Influencing the European Market post 2015 : The role of Government Affairs with payers and policy makers
The other workshops, including those on the latest trends in the global medtech industry, the impact on business of the IVD revision or the strategy-focussed “MedTech’s “New” Business Model in Europe”, still have room, but places are going fast! For detailed information on the different workshops and sessions, go to www.medtechforum.eu/programme.
But before the ENVI vote, before the MedTech Forum and before the housewarming, I wish those of you still taking some time off an excellent summer break with plenty of opportunity to recharge and load up on plenty of vitamin D. And I look forward to embark together with you on the great journey that the next few months will no doubt be.
All the best,
– Serge Bernasconi, Chief Executive Officer MedTech Europe, EDMA & Eucomed
