Source: Arek Socha, Pixabay
60% of medical technology companies already have problems in obtaining goods from their suppliers. Another 35% have difficulties to cover their own needs for medical protective equipment and disinfectants. This was the result of a quick poll conducted by the The Federal Association of Medical Technology (BVMed). Protective equipment is needed to manufacture further medical devices.
To counteract this trend, BVMed is calling for free movement of goods, postponement of the EU Medical Devices Regulation and a national emergency plan.
On March 4, 2020, an export ban was imposed on medical protective equipment in Germany in order to use it for own purposes. Even then BVMed was critical of this. European production facilities that manufacture absolutely necessary medical devices for Germany are in need of this protective equipment for their own production. Such an export ban restricts the free movement of goods throughout Europe and has a long-term negative effect on the fight against the corona pandemic.
However, this export ban was lifted eight days later on March 12, 2020, following discussions with the medical devices industry. On 14 March 2020, an EU-wide regulation also ensured the free movement of goods within Europe. The German government has already ordered 6,500 breathing apparatus by the end of March. Important measures not only for existing hospitals, but also for those to be built provisionally.
The federal and state governments have agreed on an emergency plan in which additional capacities could be created by converting large halls, rehabilitation facilities and hotels. Berlin, for example, is planning a provisional hospital with 1,000 beds on the Berlin exhibition grounds, with the support of the Bundeswehr.
On May 26, 2020, an EU-wide regulation will come into force that will significantly increase the regulatory requirements for medical devices. This will result in greater personnel requirements for the manufacture of medical devices. According to BVMed, this represents an additional burden for the industry that would not be bearable in times of crisis. For this reason, a postponement of this ordinance until after the Corona Pandemic is demanded.
As a final step, Dr. Marc-Pierre Möll (CEO of BVMed) calls for a critical and strategic dialogue on a national emergency plan. This is necessary to ensure the care of all patients, not only during the corona pandemic, but also in future medical crises. A cooperation between all involved industries and the government is indispensable.
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