A crowded room at the offices of the European Policy Center yesterday afternoon. The topic of the day is "The future of medical devices in Europe". The distinguished panel includes Josée Hansen, Pharm. D, project leader, Priority Medical Devices/ EHT, WHO-Geneva . Ms Hansen elaborated on the project's approach, scope and objectives. In a nutshell, PMD identifies medical devices as they are on the market today and maps how they can contribute to combating the global burden of disease and identifies gaps.
After Ms Hansen's presentation, the point was raised in the discussion that this approach might be well-suited for the pharmaceutical industry but in the medtech industry, innovation happens in close collaboration with clinicians and industry. The pacemaker for example, one of the world's leading products in helping to fight heart disease which was first implanted in Europe and then marketed in the US by a physician with an idea. While health improvements can certainly be achieved in a boardroom setting one should be careful to not exclude and block other pathways . A valid point in my view.
Mark Grossien