Technology cost warning ahead of Spanish cardio programme:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Spain is preparing to launch a national ischaemic cardiopathy programme by the end of this month. Confirmation of this came with a warning that in order to avoid limiting access to medical technologies in this area, costs must be contained. Alfonso de Castro Beiras, president of the Juan Canalejo cardiology institute, in the northwestern city of A Coruna, was speaking at a meeting held last week in Barcelona by Spanish medical technology industry federation, Fenin. Dr Castro highlighted implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) as an example of the technologies that are most at risk of being less accessible due to reimbursement policies. The Fenin meeting, held to mark the federation's 25th anniversary, coincided with the Medical Forum Expo 2003 trade fair (For more on both events, see next issue).