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The Dutch association of manufacturers of medical devices ( Nefemed ) has now
focus on Innovations as a new initiative.
Nefemed is the Dutch Federation of producers,
importers and distributors of medical devices and products. The products of the
Nefemed members are mostly medical devices meant for single use only. These
disposable devices, as they are sometimes called, are used by health
professionals and patients. The products range from devices used one time
outside the body to devices that are implanted in the patient. Heart valves,
pacemakers, stents, knee and hip prostheses, as well as wound dressings, plaster
casings, stoma materials and incontinence products are examples. Medical devices
for more permanent use, like instruments and equipment, can also be part of the
product range of members. Nefemed commissioned a study by the Dutch Organization
for Applied Scientific Research TNO to review the history and assess the future
of this category of devices. Some conclusions of the study were as under :
History And Future Scenario For Single Use Medical
Disposable Devices
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The application of medical devices is widespread.
Five studies of specific areas generally conclude that modern devices are
absolutely indispensable for a qualitative good healthcare, both hospital care
as well as long term care nursing. The present range of devices is necessary
over the full spectrum of qualitative good healthcare.
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The need for devices will certainly continue to rise the next 15 years.
Breakthroughs in prevention or in diagnosis and treatment methods in the five
disease areas that were studied, will slow down the rise in certain areas, but
the estimates for the next 15 years will certainly not be lowered.
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The greatest contribution to innovation is expected from the aggregated effect
of the many smaller and larger improvements in products, and not primarily from
a few big technological breakthroughs. Significant are also developments where
innovations in devices for once only use proceed parallel with innovations in
other categories of devices (e.g. in minimal invasive surgery).
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Innovations in products are proceeding more and more in combination with
innovations in procedures. On the one hand new products cause innovations in the
healthcare processes, on the other hand companies are committed to service
provision, knowledge transfer and education in order to make possible better and
more efficient use of the new devices. In this way the redesign of healthcare
chains becomes possible, both inside healthcare institutions and in continuous
care where several institutions co-operate. Both effectiveness and
patient-orientation, as well as safety and efficiency can be increased. One
should think of the burden reduction for the patient and the health professional
himself. Companies are taking the initiative in this more frequently. Transfer
of knowledge can proceed via information transfer, training and support, or
consultation of healthcare departments and management of care institutions. In
the new Dutch healthcare system (introduced by law in the beginning of 2006)
this knowledge is also becoming relevant for health insurers.
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The past 15 years companies have paid more attention to the information about
the cost effectiveness of new products and the provisions in which they are
used. Much data have become available about the actual contribution to increased
quality of life, autonomy, patient-orientation, human factors and cost-utility.
The number of studies that fully meet the criteria of Evidence Based Medicine
(in which, based on properly executed trials, the cost-utility is measured in
Quality Adjusted Life Years – QALY’s – per euro) is still not very large, but
the number of studies with quantitative data is increasing. However, the present
methods of Evidence Based Medicine are not optimally suited for many devices.
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The expectation is that next 15 years many scientific and technological
developments will lead to new or strongly improved devices (new materials,
micro-systems and nanotechnology, smart labels for packaging). This also applies
to coupled processes like production, distribution and logistics, and services.
These improvements and innovations will also refer to other aspects like labour
productivity growth in healthcare. In Dutch society there is a very urgent need
for devices that help to bridge the gap between demand and supply in healthcare,
especially regarding cost control and labour market problems.
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