Sitting in the crowded main conference hall of Berlin International Congress Center (ICC) on the opening day of Germany’s largest health policy conference, the so-called Hauptstadtkongress, I am keen to see where senior government officials see the healthcare system headed. The conference center breathes the atmosphere of a 70s sci-fi movie. I am listening to […]

Just sitting at the airport after what was an excellent Global Harmonization Task Force Conference. Well done Steve Dibert and his crew, not to mention Health Canada. Who says regulatory affairs is boring! This conference really put the moose among the pigeons! We had a truly gripping opening session from Dr. Robert Jackson, the renowned […]

It takes very little to persuade me to visit Prague. It is one of the gems of Europe. On this occasion, though, I had little opportunity to enjoy the scenic beauty of the city as I arrived at 1.00 am and spent the day in an ornate, but windowless, ballroom in a classic early 20th […]

The EPC organised on May 6th a policy dialogue with the World Bank on the topic: “Russia in the global economic storm” and presented its latest Economic Report dated March 2009 and available here. The numbers of the World Bank, even though considered by the key note as “educated guesses” are still the best available […]

Sitting on Boston’s south shore, the John F. Kennedy Pesidential Library is both imposing yet not over-stated. A rare treat for me was the opportunity to address the annual meeting of MassMEDIC, the largest regional medical technology association in the USA – and that means the world, I am sure! The speaker’s podium has a […]

I’m just back from an extended trip to Sweden where I was invited to present at Swedish Medtech’s AGM (it was my first trip to Sweden so I tagged on a few days leave). Great event and a great country; if you haven’t visited yet, you have to go! I have always found Swedish people […]

Last night I attended BVMed’s well attended debate looking at the German medical technology sector in times of the economic crisis. The debate was hosted by the permanent representation of the German Federal State of North Rhine Westfalia. Member of the European Parliament, Dr Peter Liese, was one of the speakers. He welcomed BVMed’s initiative […]

Just back from Easter holidays and picked up this article from the Wall Street Journal “Medical Devices Face New Scrutiny From FDA”.  When I read the article it reminded me again of one of the great untold strengths of device regulation in Europe and yet another example where the European system is better than the […]

Brussels, 8 April 2009 – Eucomed welcomes revision of directive 2000/35/EC on Late Payments adopted by the European Commission today strengthening current payment obligations. Association disappointed to see final text considerably watered down compared to initial clear targets. As the voice of the medical technology industry in Europe, Eucomed is extremely pleased to see late […]