Berlin/Germany. In BVMed’s opinion, new medical devices and technologies are helping to create a “new healthcare economy” with qualitatively high-value medical care, whilst simultaneously offering medium- to long-term cost reductions. “Innovative medical technologies reduce patient recovery time and make it possible for them to participate quickly again in society and return to their work place. This in itself represents a high benefit for the economy”, BVMed Director General Joachim M. Schmitt told MPs, federal state representatives and the media at the “Medical Technology On Site” visitors’ programme hosted by BVMed member company BIOTRONIK in Berlin. In this respect, medical technology represents an investment in people’s health and productivity, said Mr. Schmitt.

As an example, BVMed pointed out the reduction in the duration of patient hospital stays. Minimally invasive surgery methods mean that patients can leave the expensive intensive care units much more quickly. This is an aspect that is becoming increasingly important for hospitals with the start of the DRG age in Germany. A further example given by BVMed was the number of days of absence from work, which represented a severe burden to the German economy. According to the Federal Institute for Employment Health and Safety, the 500 million days of absence annually cost the German economy more than 70 billion Euro. Innovative medical technologies help reducing these days of absence.

BVMed lists some of the sector’s particularities as:

• Medical technologies are indispensable for people’s health and quality of life. They play an important role in all areas of the German healthcare service: in prevention, diagnostics, therapy and rehabilitation.
• Medical technologies are an important economic factor in Germany. The German market for medical devices is valued at Euros 19 billion (excluding dental products). Over 100,000 people are employed in the German medical device industry.
• There is scarcely a more innovative branch. Medical technology companies realise more than half of their turnover with products that are under two years old. 10 percent of this turnover is then invested in research and development.
• Medical technologies are pointing the way towards a modern health service. Homecare services of medical device companies ensure qualitatively high-value medical care in a home environment. The inclusion of modern information and communication technologies ensure more efficient and cost-effective care.

“All the aforementioned aspects reflect the productivity, the innovative capacity, and the potential of the medical technology branch. Therefore, medical technologies must be available to all patients who require them, without delay,” says BVMed.

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