Ireland is one of the top five global medtech hubs and, in order to increase its role, the Irish Medtech Association that represents the medtech sector proposes two key priorities for the next government:
- Investing in Innovation
- Invest in People
In particular, the MedTech Association outlines recommendations under three pillars [1]:
PILLAR 1: Health and patient access
• Ensure the effective implementation of the new EU Medical Device Regulations
• Promote regulatory convergence after Brexit and the recognition of CE marks
• Make sure any Health Technology Assessment regulations are fit-for-purpose
PILLAR 2: Enterprise and Innovation
• Embrace new technologies with advanced manufacturing
• Nurture entrepreneurship and support disruptive innovation
• Advocate for tax policies that align profits with substance
• Establish Ireland as a leader for gender leadership in manufacturing
PILLAR 3: Education and skills
• Support lifelong learning for a world class knowledge economy
• Safeguard the sustainability of the new apprenticeships programmes
However, the Chair of the Irish Medtech Association and CEO of S3 Connected Health John O’Brien underlined the existing serious gap in the Irish innovation ecosystem. This should be addressed by the next Government with an investment in an advanced discrete manufacturing centre of scale, and through the adoption of new technologies, such as AI, data analytics and 3D printing. All to make Irish manufacturers more competitive on the global market.
Since Ireland is one of the top locations for medtech FDI investment in Europe, O’Brien highlighted that the changes in EU regulations could compromise this role, as the policymakers have failed to ensure that the regulatory system is ready for the transition under the May 26 deadline.
The Irish MedTech Association also emphasizes the necessity, for the next government, to collaborate with the EU in order to identify the MDR implementation challenges and, at the same time, the policy makers’ duty to adapt the medical devices certified in the UK and avoid regulatory divergences after Brexit.
Fabrizio Gallo
Regulatory Affairs Department
23/03/2020
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[1]https://www.irishmedtechassoc.ie/IBEC/Press/PressPublicationsdoclib3.nsf/wvIMDANewsByTitle/irish-medtech-priorities-for-the-next-government-24-01-2020?OpenDocument