Berlin/Germany. With a turnover increase of some 6.5 % in 2002, the 200 member companies of the German Medical Technology Association (BVMed) have slightly improved their situation since last year. This is the picture portrayed by BVMed’s recently-published turnover statistics.

Turnover increases are largely a result of increased case-related sales and are slightly below the world market growth rate of some 7 %. Due to the continued pressure on prices and the rising costs of raw materials, the potential profit situation of the companies must however be seen as less positive, said BVMed Director General Joachim M. Schmitt at the presentation of the figures in Berlin. The German medical devices industry has a total turnover of some 18 billion Euro and employs more than 100,000 people.

BVMed’s member companies in the implants sector, including operating equipment, experienced a positive year due to rising hospital cases and demographic developments. The same is true for the incontinence and ostomy care sectors. The sector of medical devices for intensive and nursing care recorded an average rise, whereas the sector of bandaging stagnated further and was even regressive in certain subsectors. BVMed is expecting a similar development in turnover in 2003.

“With the introduction of the flat-rate reimbursement system (DRGs) in the German hospital sector, we expect the pressure on medical devices prices to increase further. This is partly due to the continued imposition of a limit on expenditure in the hospital sector and partly due to the low relative evaluations of cost-intensive procedures, such as heart operations and endoprosthetics. If this budgeting policy continues, then there is a danger that companies are forced to abandon services they currently offer, but which are not reimbursable,” says BVMed.

Mr. Schmitt added: “Positive company results are a prerequisite for the innovation potential of the medical technology sector, for investment and development. The medical technology manufacturers therefore need planning security and innovation-friendly conditions.”

As to membership development, BVMed said that the membership increase to 200 companies from trade and industry at the start of 2003 represented a “round” high-point. With a total of 28 new members in 2002, BVMed experienced extraordinary growth. The majority of new members came from the homecare sector at the start of 2002, from therapy and care in the home environment. Since the start of 2003 a further five companies have opted to join BVMed.

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