117 results

Patient safety
Ethics Value

Posted on 13.02.2012

Why patient safety and HTA are important – for us all

Too often we, as stakeholders in health, forget about whom we are talking when we say “patients.” We talk as if the patient is somewhere far away from our discussions rather than the person with whom, about whom and for whom we are having those discussions. In reality, we are all patients – for some it’s just once a year and for others it’s every day of the year. But it’s important to remember that health policy should, theoretically, benefit all of us when it is our turn to receive healthcare – no matter what that care is.

By John Bowis Honorary President, Health First Europe

The winner is
Business Value

Posted on 07.02.2012

Improving life, being cost-efficient and contributing to the EU’s economy – Rewarding Europe’s most innovative medtech companies

When UBM Canon decided to launch the MEDTEC EMDT Innovation Awards, the PIP implant affair was not front-page news. The organisers merely thought that the contributions made by Europe’s medical technology industry in ameliorating the human condition deserved recognition. But in the aftermath of the wall-to-wall coverage of the French breast implant scandal, it’s more important than ever to celebrate and trumpet the achievements of this remarkable industry.

By Norbert Sparrow Editor in Chief, EMDT, medtechinsider

Silver linings
Business

Posted on 17.01.2012

On clouds and silver linings: Leadership transition at Eucomed

Most of you know that John Wilkinson has left the position of Eucomed Chief Executive at the end of last year. And even though John’s decision was announced already in June of 2011, as I write this now, more than six months later, it still feels as if he informed me of his intentions only yesterday. Fond of the Brussels bubble while at the same time being excited about the European and global perspective of the job, I am sure it was by no means an easy decision.

By Guy Lebeau Chairman of the Eucomed Board

Incontinence
Access Value

Posted on 01.12.2011

Incontinence, a silent condition? No more!

Incontinence is a condition that often gets associated with age. When we think about incontinence we tend to think first about elderly people and that’s normal because over 60% of nursing home residents are affected with some kind of incontinence (from mild to severe). However, European studies estimate that between 4% and 8% of the total population are affected, regardless of age. As our populations grow older, it is fair to say that more and more people will suffer from it. This could be your neighbour’s condition and you wouldn’t even know about it!

By Eszter Kacskovics Public Affairs Director SCA Hygiene Products, Incontinence Care Europe

Driving innovation in European healthcare
Business

Posted on 16.09.2011

Driving innovation in European healthcare

My pulse is already racing at the prospect of this year’s MedTech Forum. The sequence of events following the 2008-2009 banking crisis has played out rather predictably with a broader economic crisis emerging in 2010 and only this year has the full force of public sector impacts been seen as the spending or money printing spree used to avoid deep recession has shifted to efforts to rebalance economies and pay back the debts that were created by ten years of fiscal laxity.

By John Wilkinson Former Chief Executive of Eucomed

EU Medical technology
Business

Posted on 06.09.2011

Medtech industry must change its way of doing business to remain successful in the EU

Europe is an important and continuously growing market for medical technology products. Driven by budgetary pressure on the payer and provider levels as well as by strong competitive dynamics, the commercial climate for established medical technology companies is, however, deteriorating. The recent industry survey MedTech Barometer 2011 conducted by us (and with ‘us’, I mean global strategy and marketing consultancy Simon-Kucher & Partners) confirms the presence of increasing commercial challenges but still provides an overall positive short-term business outlook. Yet the longer-term outlook is less positive and suggests that in order to remain successful in the European market place, established players will have to adapt their way of doing business in the future.

By Joerg Kruetten Executive Vice-President at Simon-Kucher & Partners and head of the Medtech competence center

facingsocialmedia
Value

Posted on 09.08.2011

Facing up to the Social Media Challenge – How Should the Industry Engage with Consumers?

Next week, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies will change the way they interact with consumers on Facebook. These changes are occurring, not based on new communications strategies or industry regulations, but because Facebook itself is changing its policies.

By Sam Barnes Director, Head of PR at AXON

Industry dialogue
Access Business

Posted on 03.08.2011

HTA in Medical Technology – The Displacement of Concepts

I’m fascinated by organisations. In particular, I’m in intrigued by the way some organisations succeed at their chosen task whilst others fail. There are, of course, lots of explanations for what separates “the wheat from the chaff”, as we English say. Some academics say it is the firms’ capabilities and resources, others their culture, still others put it down to leadership. But all of these are what one might call “static” explanations.

By Brian Smith Adjunct Professor at SDA Bocconi

shout
Business

Posted on 18.07.2011

Hear, hear! We can really help current and future medical technology SMEs to innovate!

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are the lifeblood of the medical technology industry. Research in the medical technology industry, which typically occurs at the bedside not at the bench, is usually a result of small or micro collaborations between health professionals, academia and SMEs. This research model brings rapid innovation, which quickly tackles current and emerging medical needs. This innovation can only be good news for under-pressure European healthcare systems as there is clear evidence that more effective treatments are capable of delivering clear benefits; reduced hospital stays (with an associated reduction in cost of treatment); better outcomes, and faster rehabilitation and return to society.

By Sharon Higgins Chair, Eucomed SME Task Force