Italian Survey Shows Centralised Purchasing of Medical Devices Does not Reduce Price; Medical Devices Often Undervalued as Analyses Focus Only on Short-term Financial and Economic Aspects

Rome, April 16, 2010 (ots/PRNewswire) - Centralised purchasing of
medical devices does not reduce prices and medical devices are often
undervalued as analyses focus only on the short-term financial and
economic perspectives. This was the core message that was presented
by Prof Rosanna Tarricone, Executive Director of the European Health
Technology Institute for Socio-Economic Research (EHTI) and Associate
Professor at Bocconi University, at the 3rd National Congress on
Medical Devices which took place on 13-14 April 2010 in Rome.

During the opening session on the second day of the Congress,
Prof Tarricone summarized the conclusions of a survey conducted from
2007 to 2009 in Italy by the General Directorate of Drugs and Medical
Devices of the Italian Ministry of Health in cooperation with CERGAS
Bocconi University. The aim of the survey was investigating the main
aspects of procurement procedures, expenditures and consumption of
medical devices, and capital equipment for imaging. Cardiovascular,
orthopaedic and neurosurgery/neuroradiology products were explored.

"Data shows that while procurement procedures become more
centralised, prices coefficient of variation (CV) decreases to almost
nil. However, such phenomenon is not correlated with the
inter-regional prices variability observed for each category of
medical devices. In other words, centralised purchases are not always
predictive of lower prices," says Prof Tarricone.

Another aspect under investigation was the presence of Health
Technology Assessment (HTA) Commissions. "Almost all the Local Health
Authorities (LHA) sampled for the survey have established a HTA
Commission for medical devices. Nevertheless, the activities of such
Commissions are often limited to a partial evaluation, mainly
focusing on the short-term financial and economic perspectives. This
approach is also confirmed by the purchasing analysis that mainly
focuses on the 'most valuable economic criterium', excluding any
other evaluation of the value of medical devices," she ends.

This survey has highlighted the interest in the medical devices
sector and the importance of their correct evaluation by policy and
decision-makers. Its results demonstrate a growing acknowledgement
from the Local Health Authorities and Regions that effective tools
for the assessment and management of medical devices are needed.

About EHTI

Since 2007, EHTI is realising the potential of medical technology
in Europe by filling the research gap, enabling policymakers to make
informed decisions that vastly improve systems' efficiency and
quality of life for all. In doing so, the Research Institute also
aims to build strong partnerships among leading figures in academia,
industry and government. By mobilising the synergies between these
partners, it aims at enhancing the production of top-quality
research.

http://www.ehti.info

Source: EHTI

ots Originaltext: The European Health Technology Institute for Socio-Economic Research (EHTI)
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
CONTACT: Contact: Rosanna Tarricone, Executive Director
EHTI,Rosanna.tarricone@ehti.info, +39-0258365481