German industry wants say in reimbursement decisions:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Germany's BVMed industry association says its knowledge and expertise should be used by the health ministry's reimbursement bodies when it comes to decision-making on healthcare products. In a recent position paper (see www.bvmed and go to Publikationen- Stellungnahme), the Berlin association said its practical, industry-relevant insight would be valuable to the joint federal committee (G-BA) and its executive arm, IQWiG in bringing cost-effective, innovative advanced medical technologies into circulation. BVMed director Joachim Schmitt has long campaigned for industry to be better consulted on technical medtech issues, on cost-benefit grounds and for the benefit of German patients (see Clinica No 1157, p 8).