Medical devices are good for patients and the economy

Medical technology (MedTech) plays a major role in healthcare. It improves the well-being of patients and the economy also receives a positive boost. However, the advance of MedTech in the Netherlands is in danger of being delayed due to bureaucratic red tape and conflicting interests. A long-term strategy is lacking, as are the financial resources to further develop the sector. Scientific researcher Natallia Uzunbajakava and strategic manager Onno Huiskamp of TNO Holst Center want to turn the tide. They share their plans during it Medical Electronics event, on Tuesday February 6 in Vianen.

Uzunbajakava and Huiskamp are co-initiators of Tech4Health, a program that a boost wants to give to the medical technology sector in the Netherlands. Tech4Health was developed in collaboration with researchers from the Technical Medical Center of the University of Twente and is still 'under construction'. The plans will be submitted to the central government's National Growth Fund in the autumn, but preparations are already in full swing.

Uzunbajakava: “With more than 34,000 companies active at European level, the MedTech sector is truly a revenue model for the Netherlands. The nice thing is that most innovations come from SMEs and startups. Large MedTech companies are more reluctant to innovate and risk averse. Tech4Health wants to support these small-scale, innovative parties, both financially and scientifically.”

Conscious opposition
Huiskamp adds: “We focus on three within the program impactlines. First, we want to get started with two strong ecosystems around imaging technology (including MRI, ultrasound) and sensors (wearable medical equipment, wearables). In addition, we want to help Dutch MedTech partners and startups in particular to market their products in the Netherlands and abroad.”

The plans are ambitious. “The goal is to develop innovations over the long term, set up test facilities and establish treatment methods for new technological developments,” says Huiskamp enthusiastically. The aim is also to remove obstacles to innovation. And that is necessary, because the successful launch of new medical technologies depends not only on performance, but also on collaboration – for example between health insurers and medical providers. “Sometimes the launch is deliberately opposed by commercial parties who are afraid of market loss. So the new technology, with better performance, is not always welcome,” said Uzunbajakava.

Lost patients
“From my involvement in the dermatology sector, I recognize similar situations with treatment equipment for cosmetic dermatology,” continues Uzunbajakava. “Owners of (cosmetic) dermatological clinics were afraid that they would lose their patients and work due to the introduction of so-called home-use-devices. These are devices that people can use at home. After years of consultation with interested parties, we came to a consensus: home-use-devices are additional. They bring more patients to clinics that provide treatments with professional equipment. After treatment in a clinic, the patient can do so at home home use device get started for long-term results and maintenance.”

Bureaucratic syrup pot
In addition to technical challenges and opposition, the sector also faces a 'bureaucratic stew', as Huiskamp puts it. He illustrates this with a practical example. "There are wearables on the market in the form of patches that continuously measure patient medical data. You would ideally like one of these wearable already in the ambulance, because that immediately provides relevant information about the state of health. Everyone sees the usefulness of this – patients, doctors and also ambulance staff – but it is still not allowed because there are no protocols.”

In conversation
Huiskamp continues: “This example makes it clear how necessary it is to talk to each other. On the one hand to remove obstacles, on the other hand to... time to market to shorten. With a strong, pluralistic MedTech innovation ecosystem, we can achieve this goal.” If the plans are approved, approximately 540 million euros will soon be available to put the Netherlands on the map as a leader within the EU. Uzunbajakava: “TNO Holst Center and the TechMed Center of UT Twente fulfill a coordinating role within Tech4Health, but we are also looking for industrial partners to contribute to the proposal and the innovation ecosystem.”

Panel discussion
At the FHI event 'Medical Electronics, on Tuesday, February 6 in Vianen, Huiskamp and Uzunbajakava will take the stage to share their ideas with those present. Uzunbajakava gives at 2:30 p.m a presentation about the National MedTech Growth Fund, after which Huiskamp takes over for one substantive panel discussion with four MedTech specialists from science and industry. The topic of the discussion is: the way forward for medical electronics in the Netherlands. A current theme that is expected to cause quite a stir. The panel members have now been announced. In addition to Uzunbajakava, Rob Kleihorst (Philips Healthtech), Dennis Klomp (UMC Utrecht) and Wouter Eijgelaar (Kidney Foundation) have promised cooperation.

Register for free
Do you want to know how the panel members envision the future of medical electronics in the Netherlands, or are you curious about the MedTech project of TNO and TU Twente? Register for the Medical Electronics event free of charge via: Program – Medical Electronics (fhi.nl).