European Cardiologists recognize contribution of medical device industry to improving patient care
Posted on 23.05.2013
Ethica award acknowledges role of safe, innovative cardiovascular devices in changing and saving patient lives
Brussels, 23 May 2013 – The European cardiovascular medical device industry was presented on 20 May at the annual meeting of the European Association for Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions with the Ethica Award for its contribution to improving European patient care. Interventional cardiologists use narrow tubes, or catheters, passed through arteries or veins to reach the heart or other organs to carry out procedures and insert devices to treat disease. The award recognizes the role played by safe, innovative cardiovascular devices in addressing unmet medical needs and improving patient survival rates and quality of life.
At its annual event in Paris on 20 May, the European Association for Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (PCR) presented the European cardiovascular medical device industry the Ethica award in recognition of its contribution to improving patient care. Devices such as drug eluting stents and mechanical valves enable interventional cardiologists to treat patients less invasively, to treat patients for whom they were previously no treatment options and, more recently, to perform interventional procedures that improve survival as well as quality of life. The development of safe, innovative medical devices has enabled clinicians to take procedures that once were long, open surgical procedures and make them less invasive, catheter-based procedures that reduce risk, morbidity and mortality for patients.
The Ethica Award is given each year at PCR’s annual EuroPCR event to honour those who have significantly contributed to the field of cardiovascular intervention as a teacher, scientist, care provider or pioneer. Addressing the 12,000 delegates in attendance at the event, PCR Chairman Dr. William Wijns explained that, “Over the past 30 years the cardiovascular device industry has developed a range of innovative devices and technologies that have enabled interventional cardiologists to transform medicine. The industry has put in the commitment, investment and technical expertise to go through the cycle of invention, technical development, pre-clinical and clinical evaluation, validation, registration and testing in the real world to bring devices to routine clinical use.”
Accepting the Ethica Award on behalf of the device industry, Michele Perrino, President of Volcano EMEA and Chairman of the Cardiovascular Sector Group of Eucomed, which represents the medical technology industry in Europe, said, “We are honoured to receive the Ethica award, especially at a time when the EU regulatory framework for medical devices is under revision. Today in Europe, we are able to provide patients and clinicians access to innovative life-saving technologies 3 years earlier than other parts of the world. With appropriate regulatory conditions, we can continue to help people—we can continue to save lives.”
The European medical technology industry, represented by Eucomed, has committed in its five-year strategy “Contract for a Healthy Future” to engage effectively with essential healthcare stakeholders like healthcare professionals and patients to improve health outcomes and increase cost-effectiveness. “The collaboration between industry, clinicians, physicians’ societies, teaching institutions, regulators and hospital payers is a unique and essential ecosystem that has enabled the advancement of patient care while minimising social cost,” said Eucomed CEO Serge Bernasconi, “it is a clear example of how industry, clinicians and governments can work together to improve outcomes and manage long-term medical costs.”
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About Eucomed
Eucomed is the European medical technology industry association. Its mission is to make modern, innovative and reliable medical technology available to more people. Eucomed represents directly and indirectly 25,000 designers, manufacturers and suppliers of medical technology used in the diagnosis, prevention, treatment and amelioration of disease and disability. Small and medium sized companies make up more than 95% of this sector. The European medical technology industry generates annual sales of €100 billion, is the industry having most patent applications of all industries and employs around 575,000 highly skilled workers. Eucomed is a member of MedTech Europe, an alliance of European medical technology industry associations. For more information visit www.eucomed.org
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Brett Kobie
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