|
This latest strategic publication from HBS
Consulting"Medical Device Technology - changing reimbursement environment
in key markets" provides:
- An up to date analysis of current regulatory andreimbursement guidelines
as they pertain to the countries researched for this report
- An assessment of the principal factors whichdictate and impact upon
medical device reimbursement
- Case studies reviewing reimbursementexperiences of companies within the
medical device and diagnostic sectors
Through the use of primary research methodology the report's author has
gathered the views of professionalswithin the regulatory affairs industry and
officials involved in guiding reimbursement strategies in government
organizations. Additionally, interviews with business development and
marketing personnel within medical device and medical technology companies offer
ideas and perceptions on some of the key trends which may determine success and
failure in the medical device market.
Every single market covered in this report - the US, Japan, France, Germany,
Italy, Spain and the UK - are in the process of either overhauling their medical
device reimbursement systems or creating new ones.
Executive Summary
Even if a product is approved through regulatory procedures for sale in a
market the company may be unable to find buyers for it. This is because the few
purchasers would either expect, or be able, to pay the whole cost of the device
themselves and rely on at least part payment from their healthcare provider, be
it Staterun or insurance-based. This third party payment is termed
reimbursement. At a meeting of health ministers in May 2004 entitled
"Towards high-performing health systems" the conclusion was reached
that, "Countries must strive to get better value for money if they are to
reconcile rising demands for health care with public financing
constraints." There is little that is new in this statement and, so far as
medical device companies and healthcare providers are concerned, it is not even
ground-breaking news. What is newsworthy is that the pressure on medical
device companies has been drastically increased in recent years as the pressure
on governments to contain costs has reached a climactic point. The result? This
report reviews developments in these markets and assesses the implications for
the medical device industry and furthermore, discusses the strategies that will
be needed in the new regulatory and reimbursement environments.
|