Association of British Healthcare Industries · Association of British Healthcare Industries. Contents 1 Mission Statement 2 2006 Achievements ... to put the message across to key

Annual Report to Members 2006

Association of British Healthcare Industries

Contents

1 Mission Statement2 2006 Achievements4 Chairman’s Foreword5 Introduction from the Director General6 Influencing the Political Arena8 UK Market

10 Healthcare Industries Task Force11 Research and Development12 Working with the Media14 Regulation16 Publications and the Website18 International 20 Membership21 Contacts

The ABHI is the lead trade association for the UK’s medicaltechnology industry. We proactively work with our member

organisations to advance and promote medical devices and equipment, systems and services. The fruits of this

work, seeing this sector prosper and develop leading-edgetreatments, are shared by all: patients, clinicians, the economy

and the people it employs.

MissionStatement

Creating an effective and efficient market environment which encourages the rapid and widespreadadoption and use of products, services and technologies which enhance patient care and quality of life by:

•Vigorously representing industry views to government on developments in the procurement landscape•Maximising industry input into development of Payment by Results (PbR)•Discouraging the use of reverse e-auctions by funding research into their value•Continuing to develop practical guidance for quantitative inputs into NICE evaluations•Managing implications of interactions between NICE, PbR and procurement

Driving for the development of an improved business climate by increasing research and developmenttargeted at the medical technology sector, improving the environment for conducting clinical evaluationsand enhancing collaborative activity through:

•Collaboration with Department of Health and NHS Institute to establish the NHS National Innovation Centre launched in September 2006

•Contributing to the successful development and launch of a Knowledge Transfer Network which meets HITF objectives

•Working with UK Clinical Research Councils to develop necessary R&D capacity and helping to focus this on medical technology innovations and industry collaboration

•Working with the Department of Health to establish two Health Technology Co-operative (HTC) pilots with a view to rolling out an expanded network

Raising awareness and understanding of industry among key stakeholders and systematic developmentof stakeholder relationships by:

•Continuing to brief MPs and Peers on important issues by engaging with key parliamentary committees and groups

•Pursuing a new strategy of engaging with a wider audience of government departments and agencies•Enhancing the ABHI presence at the political party conferences through fringe meetings•Working with patient groups through the Medical Technology Group and other forums •Building coalitions with the wider healthcare community on issues of mutual interest such as NHS Logistics •Increasing the visibility of the ABHI in the national and trade media

2 ABHI Annual Report 2006

2006 Achievements

ABHI Annual Report 2006 3

Influencing the regulation of medical devices and other legislation to ensure an appropriate environmentfor industry to achieve its objectives in market access and innovation through:

•Ensuring that the process of influencing the revision of the Medical Devices Directive (MDD) is effective and inparticular the regulation of clinical trials across the EU

•Influencing the framing and implementation of new legislation on human tissue engineered products •Participating in the initiative to improve the publics’ and clinicians’ understanding of risk, safety and the regulatorysystem for medical devices

•Leading the industry in addressing matters concerning auto identification and data capture systems•Re-establishing the Decontamination Forum to represent members’ interests in this area•Influencing and increasing members’ awareness of environmental legislation•Ensuring ABHI is effectively involved in European standardisation activities and having a key role in establishingthe new CEN Advisory Board for Health Standards

Helping small and medium sized medical technology companies to export to new and existing markets by:

•Maintaining a strong UK presence at Medica and Arab Health in 2006•Breaking into new markets by taking a UK pavilion to the China Medical Equipment Fair and Hospimedica in Singapore for the first time

•Launching an International Newsletter to provide a regular update for all exhibitors and international representatives

•Improving the Sales Lead Service to members by launching it online

Having been elected Chairman of the ABHI in June 2006I am taking on this role at an uncertain and transitionaltime for the medical technology industry in the UK.

Government reforms are changing the procurementlandscape. NHS Logistics and PaSA functions havebeen outsourced to DHL and Novation after very littleconsultation with industry, despite a host of unresolvedissues and in the face of considerable opposition. TheABHI has repeatedly requested clarification on thestrategic reasons behind this move, and the basis onwhich the contract will be monitored but has receivedno clear response. The full consequences of this majorchange will only become clear in the coming years.There has also been a frenzy of structural reform withcollaborative procurement hubs, SHA boundariesredrawn, expansion of the private sector in healthcare

delivery and a renewed focus on primary care. A processof centralisation is happening in some areas such as procurement, and a seemingly contradictory process ofdecentralisation in other areas such as foundation hospitals.

The HITF process has produced some positive outcomes such as the National Innovation Centre and in the areas ofeducation and training. However, HITF objectives are not being served by current government policies on procurementthat threaten the future of innovation in the UK. The high expectations we had for the HITF process as a vehicle toaddress the historical problem of slow adoption of new technologies in the NHS are under threat, and we need to ensurethat the lessons of Wanless are not forgotten in the charge to cut spending on the NHS.

It is therefore essential at this time of change that the industry speaks with one strong voice on these issues togovernment. To do this the Association needs to keep expanding its membership and ensuring that all members are fullyconsulted and represented. Without the active participation of members in the special interest sections and policy andworking groups none of what we have achieved would have been possible.

I hope you find this report both interesting and informative as we look back at the achievements of the Association overthe past year.

Julian Schild, Chairman ABHI, Chairman Huntleigh Technologies plc


Chairman’s Foreword

2006 has been the most challenging year in theAssociation’s history. We began the year with theHealthcare Industries Task Force (HITF) and theSupply Chain Excellence Programme (SCEP) indirect conflict with each other. It must be said thatthere are enormously positive developmentsattached to HITF. These include research anddevelopment, education and training, andregulatory affairs but they have been clouded by theutterly opaque and determined implementation ofSCEP by the Commercial Directorate of theDepartment of Health.

The Association’s energies have been aimedtowards developing a constructive dialogue toencourage the implementation of HITF’srecommendations. However, this has beenovershadowed by the Association’s necessary andvocal criticisms of SCEP. These have been targeted at minimising the damage that this ill-considered approach wouldhave on the patient, the industry and the NHS alike. With the ending of funding from Wanless imminent and the widereconomy appearing to slow, the successful development and implementation of the Task Force’s findings has never beenmore important.

The NHS continues to face cost pressures from massively increased head-count whilst our healthcare service continuesto be in desperate need of technology, which, in many cases, can reduce demands on staff. We have been working hardto put the message across to key opinion formers that technology can both have a huge impact on the patients’experiences and contribute to substantial improvements in productivity. To this end we have significantly raised ourprofile both within the health sector and the national media. In addition, the rise of China and India as global industrialforces means that sectors like ours will need to be nurtured with great care to ensure the UK has a sustainablemanufacturing economy for the future.

The year ahead demands that we return to our efforts of constructive dialogue with policy makers to ensure that the fullweight of our sector can be brought to bear for the benefit of patients, the NHS, industry and the broader economy.

John Wilkinson, Director General ABHI


Introduction from the Director General

Talking to policy-makersOver the past year the Association hasbeen active in instigating meetingswith key decision-makers and opinionformers in Westminster and White-hall. We have been quick to build arelationship with the new Minister ofState for Delivery and Quality, AndyBurnham MP, who spoke at ourannual conference. We have alsoworked closely with the oppositionparties on key issues. The ABHI hasstepped up its lobbying of topofficials in the Department of Health,DTI, HM Treasury, and 10 DowningStreet, with a series of briefings onthe work of the medical technologyindustry and its importance to UK plc.ABHI has also focused on influencingother key parliamentary forums suchas the Health Select Committee andMedical Technology All PartyParliamentary Group (APPG). JohnWilkinson has been invited to giveoral evidence to the HealthCommittee’s NHS workforce planningenquiry, the second year in a rowABHI has been called to speak at aselect committee hearing, and wehave also submitted written evidenceto other parliamentary inquiries.

Party ConferencesFor the third year running theAssociation has been an active

member of the Health Hotel group ofmedical charities and organisations atthe political party conferences. Thisyear we held fringe events inpartnership with The Stroke Associa-tion, debating how early interventionand treatment could both save livesand public money in the longer term.Our panelists included Minister ofState for NHS Reform, Lord Warner,at the Labour conference inManchester, Shadow Secretary ofState for Health, Andrew Lansley MPat the Conservative conference inBournemouth, and Lords HealthSpokesperson, Baroness Barker at theLiberal Democrat conference in

Brighton. The events, chaired by JohnWilkinson, highlighted how patientswith serious conditions such as strokebenefit from early diagnosis and theinnovative treatments afforded byinvestment in new technology.

NHS LogisticsThe Association also held a specialmeeting at the Labour conference incollaboration with Unison and chairedby Nick Timmins of the FinancialTimes to address the controversialDoH decision to outsource the NHSLogistics Authority. Health ministerAndy Burnham MP responded toquestions from the Association,


Influencing the Political Arena

NHS Logistics fringe eventat the Labour conference

Unison’s Karen Jennings, JudyMallaber MP, and the audience, onwhy the DoH had decided tooutsource this key NHS service, andwhat safeguards had been put inplace.We have lobbied hard on this issueover the past year producing a briefingpaper for MPs, submitting severalFreedom of Information requests tothe head of the Department of Health,and raising the issue with the House ofCommons Public AccountsCommittee. While the decision tooutsource has now been taken theAssociation will continue to press for

this deal to receive the properparliamentary scrutiny.

Patient GroupsWorking closely with patient groups isa key objective of the Association. TheMedical Technology Group (MTG)provides an ideal forum for industryand patient groups to work togetheron issues of mutual concern. In 2006the MTG increased its membershipand raised its parliamentary profilewith a showcase event at Westminsterand a parliamentary dinner withPaSA. The MTG also engaged with theAPPG on Medical Technology and

other health-related APPGs, andkeeps MPs up to date on the fast-changing world of medical devicesthrough its regular newsletter. In therun up to the Scottish and Welshelections next May the MTG will holddebates and showcases in theScottish Parliament and WelshAssembly. The Association continued itsmembership of the APPG on PatientSafety chaired by Dr Howard StoateMP. The group’s meetings provide anideal opportunity to work with MPs,Peers, the NHS and DoH, as well aspatient groups on this critical issue.


Andrew Lansley MP speaksat the ABHI Conservativefringe event

Lord Warner addresses delegates atthe ABHI/Stroke Association Labourfringe event


Throughout 2006 there has been good progress made in the majority of HITF work programmes, but thefinal stages of the Supply ChainExcellence Programme raised a widerange of issues, making progress on the HITF procurement work streamproblematic. The ABHI Supply Chain/e-business Working Group played akey role in clarifying industryresponses to the various procurement-related challenges.

NHS LogisticsAt the end of summer 2006, afterconcerted efforts on the part of theAssociation and many of our membersto influence the Department of Healthand to get a clear view of what wasintended, health minister AndyBurnham MP announced that DHLwould be taking over the running ofNHS Logistics, to be re-badged ‘NHSSupply Chain’ and to incorporate somekey parts of NHS PaSA.

The plan to involve the US companyNovation to grow logistics purchasingfrom under a billion pounds to at least £3.7bn was central to industryconcerns. Following the completion of the outsourcing in September the Association worked with membersto clarify the next steps, includingagreeing new 'rules of engagement'

with government and the NHS, and to identifying reliable points of contactfor procurement policy. Seekingclarification and participation in this new procurement landscape will be a central focus for ABHIactivity in 2007.

Procurement hubsCollaborative procurement hubs wereone of the key outputs from HITF’sprocurement workstream and do notobviously sit well alongside the longer-term intent of NHS Supply Chain tosecure control over the majority of

UK Market


NHS purchasing. Not least of theissues for the hubs is whether they canbe fitted into the new regional leveloperations of the NHS, to be neatlycoterminous with SHA boundaries.Experience over many years says these‘regions’ are in many cases too large towork as a basis for procurement. Also,the bottom-up development ofFoundation Trusts, each of whichshould have its own technologyagenda, does not sit well with theimposition of models from the centreof the NHS.

Payment by ResultsIn 2006 the ABHI PbR Working Groupcoordinated responses to DoH PbRconsultations giving the industry’sview on tariff structure and their value.The group ensured that industry wasrepresented on key DoH PbRcommittees, and has developed anetwork of experts to enable us toinfluence policy across Europe.

Health Technology Assessment &Technology EvaluationThe Association has continued torespond to National Institute forHealth and Clinical Excellence (NICE)activities ensuring that our members’views are well represented inimportant areas, such as the SingleTechnology Appraisal consultation,

and the widening role of NICE. Wehave also continued to nominateindustry representatives for a range ofNICE committees. The Associationhas ensured a significant industryinput into HITF outcomes such as thesetting up of the Centre for EvidenceBased Procurement (CEP), where weensured that all sectors wererepresented at the table, andrequested industry representation onthe CEP board.

Special Interest SectionsOur Special Interest Sections havecontinued to be actively involved inkey industry sectors, formulatingcommon industry positions andproviding policy expertise in order toinform the work of the regulators andother stakeholders. Examples of thisare the work of the Orthopaedics SISin helping to refine the Eucomed (theEuropean trade association) code ofpractice, and the work of the SurgicalInstruments SIS on decontaminationissues in supercentres.

Annual conferenceThe 2006 ABHI annual conferencetook place in London in July. Keynotespeakers Julian LeGrand (formerNo.10 health advisor) and healthminister Andy Burnham MP focusedon the changing environment for

UK Medical Device manufacturers;while other speakers including thechair of the ABHI UK Market PolicyGroup, Colin Morgan, highlightedissues facing the industry such as PbR and Health Technology Assess-ments. George Yarrow of theRegulatory Policy Institute, author ofthe ABHI backed report into reverse e-auctions, also spoke.

“The healthcare industryhas been identified as one

of only four markets inwhich the UK can compete

globally, but somegovernment policies are

undermining our industry’sability to compete. The

ABHI have worked tirelesslyover the past year to ensure

that voice of the smallermanufacturer is being heard

in Whitehall as decisionsthat will affect the future ofthe UK industry are being

made.”

Brian EastManaging Director

Exmoor Plastics Ltd


As the Healthcare Industries Taskforce(HITF) exercise draws to a close wecan reflect on the positive andnegative outcomes for the industry. Amajor benefit has been the raising ofour industry’s profile. There is now anetwork of civil servants andpoliticians who have a very clear viewof what we are about and canrepresent our interests in government.

Positive outcomesWe have seen very positive outputsfrom HITF on the research anddevelopment front. The funding of theMedical Technology KnowledgeTransfer Network and two pilotHealthcare Technology Cooperatives,and our sector’s vigorous involvementin the UK Clinical ResearchCollaboration will all yield rewards forinventors, investors and the industryas a whole. We have progressedunderstanding of the issues relating toeducation and training for users of ourtechnologies but it remains to be seenwhether tangible programmes willemerge. Progressing this is a must forpatient safety and the credibility of ourindustry, not to mention the pace ofadoption of our latest technologies.

ProcurementDespite disappointing policy decisionsin this area (such as the outsourcing of

NHS Logistics to DHL/Novation), thework on procurement processes, soably led by Colin Morgan and DuncanEaton, must be followed through. Theproliferation of competing procure-ment bodies has led to wide variationin tendering behaviour and terms andconditions, and huge bureaucraticwaste for all concerned. Procurement at all levels needs to berationally organised and that is bestdone via collaborative forums thatunderstand the detailed implicationsof what is being planned. It isessential that we continue to engagewith government on this issue.

The RegulatorVery important engagement with theMedicines & Healthcare ProductsRegulatory Agency (MHRA) has beenachieved on critical projects relatingto the regulation of tissue engineeredproducts and the broader review of theMedical Devices Directive (MDD).These are pivotal for the operatingenvironment for the industry.

Looking aheadHITF was always the start of acontinuous process for engaging withgovernment. It has given us asignificant platform and closure isbest viewed as the ‘end of thebeginning’ rather than an end in itself.

Healthcare Industries Task Force

“I have been involved inHITF from its launch in

2003 and have watched itgrow into a substantial jointventure which has exceededinitial expectations. It set achallenging agenda for bothgovernment and industry inchampioning the adoptionof innovative technologies.Significant progress has

been achieved as a series ofmeasures are being put inplace to encourage fasteruptake of new technology.The next phase promises tobe even more challenging.The central role played by

ABHI in co-ordinatingindustry’s contribution will

therefore be even moreimportant in building a

constructive relationship toenable a productive

dialogue to continue.”

Chris BantockSection Head

Industry Sponsorship (Medical Devices)Medicines Pharmacy & Industry Group

Department of Health


Implementing the outputs of theHealthcare Industries Task Force hasbeen the central theme of ouractivities in the Research andInnovation Policy Group which wasbroadened to include the keystakeholders from other industryassociations, the MedicalTechnologies Knowledge TransferNetwork (KTN) and the regionalMedilink organisations.

Knowledge transferImproving the environment forresearch and development andgenerating the best conditions toconvert the creativity contained in thescience base, the NHS and industry

into sustainable businesses demandsco-ordinated and ‘joined-up’ policyand support. The funding of the KTNwas a key element of the HITF outputsas were the launch of calls for pilotHealthcare Technology Co-operativeswhich will be announced in early2007. The road-map work of theNational Innovation Centre is also acritical component of the network thatlinks ideas to those who can helprealise the potential of those ideas.

Clinical researchComprehensive engagement of theABHI in the UK Clinical ResearchCollaboration has enabled the sectorto be represented in the improvementof the alignment of governmentresearch spending and the needs ofindustry to convert that spend intonew treatments and new jobs for theeconomy. This group has alreadyreported on redesign of academicmedical careers, the standardisationof honorary contracts for work insidethe NHS and is targeting astreamlining of ethics approvalprocesses. It has a broad anddeveloping agenda and the ear ofgovernment, so constitutes a vital linkto future funding and effectiveness ofresearch spending.

The work of this Policy Group is vital

to ensuring that UK plc converts thetalent which exists across thespectrum of those involved inhealthcare into economic activity andis vital to the long-term wellbeing allthose operating in the UK.

Research and Development

“ABHI has been anexcellent contributor to theUK's Health Technologies

Knowledge Transfer Networkover the last year, both

providing strategic input viaour Steering Group and in

its support to our wellattended launch in February.

We greatly appreciate therole ABHI can play in

supporting innovation in thehealth industries sector andwe look forward to engaging

more with its staff andmembers in raising the

profile of this sector and itscontribution to the UKknowledge-base and

economy.”

Sue DunkertonDirector,

Health Technologies Knowledge Transfer Network

In an era when the media has an unprecedented level ofinfluence over decision makers it is vital that our members’views and concerns receive the maximum media exposure.

Through our work with the media over the past year theAssociation has ensured that the issues of mostimportance to the medical technology community havereceived wide coverage in the national print and broadcastmedia, and all the key trade magazines and journals.

Through building good working relationships withjournalists, and producing high quality and newsworthyarticles and news releases, the Association has managedto draw national attention to issues such as reverse e-auctions and the outsourcing of NHS Logistics.

We have been successful in achieving coverage on Channel4 and the BBC, and in placing letters and stories innational broadsheet newspapers such as The Times, TheGuardian, The Financial Times and The Telegraph. Wehave written editorial and opinion pieces that have beenpublished in wide range of trade magazines includingHealthcare Equipment & Supplies, Health Business, TheHealth Service Journal and Public Service Review,reaching a wide readership in both industry and the publicsector. Our views also regularly feature in internationaltitles such as Clinica and Middle East Medical.

Ensuring that the ABHI is mentioned and quoted in mediastories that affect our industry’s interests helps to build abetter public profile for the medical technology sector, andensures that we are the first port of call for journalists seekingthe industry viewpoint on health and technology issues.

12

Working withthe Media

13


2006 has been a busy year in regulatory affairs. Theimplementation of the HITF programme incorporated manyof the mainstream regulatory agenda items but with addedstructure and urgency. At the top of the list is the need toensure effective relations with the regulators after the mergerof MDA and MCA to form MHRA. The new agency is bydefinition a much larger body with a different culture to thatof its devices predecessor and the challenge of adapting tothis is being met positively by both sides. A regular series ofstrategic level meetings takes place with the seniormanagement of the agency while working group meetingscontinue as before.

Medical Device LegislationThe review of the MDD is now well on the way to completionand we are largely satisfied that the final version willcontinue to provide an appropriate framework for theregulation of our industry’s products. However there is now anew threat on the horizon with a proposed further review ofthe MDD. The borderline with tissue engineered productsremains a key issue linked to the other major piece oflegislation affecting the industry – the proposed regulationon Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP), whichincorporates tissue engineered products. The proposalintroduces a prescriptive pharmaceutical style of regulationand it is vital that this is resisted because of the implicationsfor the future regulation of new and innovative devices. Weare pleased to report some success in persuading themember states’ authorities of the need for radical change tothe original text but there is still a long way to go.

Decontamination & Auto IDA new industry group has been formed to address the issuessurrounding decontamination and supercentres. Thisinterfaces with ESAC-Pr, a government commitee focusing

Regulation


on deactivation of Prions, which willalso consider re-use of single useproducts. Auto Identification is also aburgeoning priority both for ABHI (as aHITF recommendation) and forEucomed where we are represented onthe EFT (e-Business Task Force),which in turn sends delegates to theHUG (Health User Group of GS1). Barcoding, Radio Frequency Identifica-tion (RFID) and other forms ofidentification are now seen as key tothe development of patient safetyprogrammes and the DoH is indiscussion with ABHI and HUG aboutthe possibility of a wide rangingconsultation programme.

StandardsThis year ABHI’s Standards DirectorTrudy Phelps was appointed as theCEN Healthcare Sector Rapporteur, torepresent the interests of thehealthcare sector to the CENTechnical Board. This gives ABHI akey role in the new CEN AdvisoryBoard for Health Standards (ABHS), toprovide a much needed coordinatingand advisory role across the healthsector. The ABHS aims to improve theefficiency of the European standards-making process. A new Europeanstandards committee for Nanotech-nologies was also established, withABHI providing the chairmanship.

Unfortunately the MHRA has decidedto withdraw from participation in allstandards work by the end of 2006.ABHI is working hard to minimize thedamage that this will cause to UK plc.

EnvironmentThe structure of ABHI's environmentalactivities has been overhauled. Thereis now an Environmental BusinessCompliance Forum to focus on the way in which legislation affectscompanies and products. To supportthis, working groups have beencreated on Electrical & ElectronicEquipment, Materials, and Waste. TheWEEE and REACH Directives havebeen the focus of our work this year.

Working in EuropeAll regulatory issues are pan-Europeanand ABHI and Eucomed work closelytogether. ABHI is extensivelyrepresented on Eucomed workinggroups both by company represent-atives and by your secretariat. IndeedEucomed has the revision of MDD,tissue engineered products and re-useof single-use products as its top lineregulatory priorities.

Thank youThe Department has an activeprogramme informing members oncurrent issues and holds regular

Forum meetings with externalspeakers as well as publishing its ownquarterly update. No report on ABHI’sregulatory activity would be completewithout a ‘thank you’ to the many‘volunteers’ from member companieswho sit on working groups andcommittees and in some cases leadABHI delegations in negotiations withgovernment. Their dedication andexpertise is an essential part of ouradvocacy of industry positions.

“ABHI has been very active in supportive of Eucomed for

a number of years. ABHIstaff chair the Public

Procurement working groupand the AssociationSecretaries Council.Eucomed very much

appreciates this outstandingcooperation with ABHI,which shows that both

associations have understoodthat working together at EU

and national level is anessential ingredient for

effectiveness and efficiency.”

Maurice WagnerDirector General

Eucomed


The ABHI websiteprovides a well-established inform-ation point forsuppliers and stake-holders seekingauthoritative inform-ation on the UK

medical technology industry. Since itsre-launch more than a year ago, thewebsite has continued to grow inpopularity. On average the websitereceives 17,000 unique visitors everymonth, who each spend around seven minutes viewing the website.The most popular pages are ourmember/product database containinginformation about all our members andthe products they produce.

With the rapid changes in the sector,the website’s Members’ Resourcessection provides news and analysis of all the changes affecting themedical technology industry. Memberscan also access archives of Focus andtake advantage of member-onlyspecial offers and discount forindustry events.

Focus magazine continues to providemembers with informative articles on a wide range of subjects.Contributors are selected from allareas of the healthcare sector

Publications and the Website


including government agencies, the NHS, academia and the privatesector, as well as ABHI members andstaff. The magazine gives a broad anddiverse picture of what is happening in our industry and the widerhealthcare sector.

ABHI’s fortnightly e-newsletter,Primed, offers member companies up-to-date information from thegovernment, UK market, regulatoryand international arenas, as well asnotice of all the up and coming ABHImeetings and relevant conferences

and seminars. Primed gives membersan informative, incisive and readablenewsletter delivered straight to theirinbox. It is also an importantcommunication tool to let themembership know what the ABHI isdoing on their behalf, and to seekmember’s views and engagement.

The ABHI has been consulted onseveral independent publicationsduring 2006. The Ernst & YoungReport ‘Your Industry, Your Future,Your Say’, has received wide acclaimfrom industry and stakeholders on howNHS spending changes will impact onthe industry. The ABHI also supported

the Oxford University RegulatoryPolicy Institute so that it couldproduce ‘Reverse eAuctions’, whichanalysed the affects e-auctions arehaving upon procurement in the UK.

The ABHI has launched its ownParliamentary Newsletter ‘Med-TechNews’ specifically designed forparliamentarians. Med-Tech News is issued each parliamentary sessionwith the aim of informing MPs and key decision makers directly on issuesaffecting the medical technologysector.

Breaking new groundThe past year has again been anothersuccessful year for the internationalwork of the ABHI. For the first time the ABHI took the UK pavilion to the China Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF) in Shenzhen, China.Exhibitors were inundated withpotential buyers and distributors, withmany making deals soon after theshow. The exhibitors were struck bythe quality of visitors, and the numberof contacts with great potential. Theevent was also well supported by thelocal UK Trade and Investment (UKTI)representatives with the CommercialOfficers arranging for a large numberof buyers to attend the showspecifically to liaise with the UKexhibitors. The ABHI will be taking apavilion to the show in 2007 thattakes place in Dalian.

Another first was an ABHI/UK Pavilionat HOSPIMedica in Singapore.Premiered as the Asian version ofMedica, it could become an exhibitionwe feature in future event calendars.

Medica and Arab HealthArab Health and Medica continue to be both popular exhibitions as well as successful for the exhibitors.Arab Health provided extensiveopportunities for exhibitors to meet


International

fifty visiting buyers from around theMiddle East, including Lebanon,Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Iraq alreadyfeatures on ABHI’s agenda ofactivities. We participate in the UKTIHealthcare Working Group for Iraq.This is an activity ABHI will continueto be actively involved with.

Export expertiseAdvice continues to be provided toUKTI on the activities that exhibitorsrequire and on adding value to eventsand activities. Additionally the ABHIhas continued its participation on the

UKTI China Working Group. We alsoliaise closely with DH International.The ABHI International Network(Export Club) had a successful yearwith its June meeting opened up tonon-members. This meeting on Chinaand India attracted record numbersand great feedback was received fromthe attendees.

Customer satisfactionThe ABHI conducted a survey ofinternational exhibitors to ensure thatwe are taking UK pavilions to theexhibitions that exhibitors want to goto. Results showed that we aremeeting the expectations ofexhibitors, as well as reinforcing ourview that the ABHI should concentrateon improving the UK pavilion at theseevents.

The Sales Lead Service, whichprovides members with details ofbusiness opportunities, has continuedand leads are now available on theABHI website. The ABHI has alsolaunched an International Newsletterdesigned to provide a regular updatefor all exhibitors and internationalrepresentatives. The newsletter cutsdown on the individual emails that theABHI distributes to its contacts as wellas raising the ABHI profile withrecipients.

Going forwardThe ABHI will focus on expanding andimproving the work we undertake atexhibitions. This will include workingwith UKTI to improve on the add-onactivities presently provided.


"Having made thecommitment in both time and money to

participate at an exhibitionthe actual preparation

and ultimately yourattendance can prove avery daunting prospect,especially for the novice

exporter. This is where theexpertise, local marketknowledge and supportservices offered by the

ABHI, before, during andin some instances after the

event can proveinvaluable".

Chris TaylorSales and Marketing Director.

Swann-Morton Limited.

ABHI at Medica

Our key goals are to promote a positive public image of thesector, to represent our members interests and work inpartnership with key stakeholders when decisions are beingmade in both the UK and EU. Our aim is to increase marketaccess for members and enhance the demand for theproducts and services of the medical technology industry.

The UK market continues to undergo change at a rapid rate.Much of the structure and development of that market iscomplex and it is key for UK based companies to be wellinformed and connected to those making the decisions atevery level.

The ABHI has developed and maintained a strong workingrelationship with key government agencies,parliamentarians, healthcare professionals and patientgroups. ABHI must continue to provide the loudest andstrongest voice in order to build effectively on theserelationships, which come into their own in an environmentwhere broad concensus and representation is needed toeffect change.

For more information about joining the ABHI please contact:Helen Neal, Public Affairs & Membership Officer.

ABHI is the voice of the medical technology industry in the UK. We have a membership that comprises of manufacturersof medical devices, equipment, and consumables as well as service companies, distributors, professional groups (suchas architects and lawyers), and suppliers to the medical community. Membership is available to any organisation with aUK base/office.

As the largest and most representative trade association in the medical technology industry, the ABHI is the first pointof call for decision-makers when seeking the opinion of industry on critical issues affecting the UK market.


Membership

Five reasons to join ABHI

The ABHI will…

1. Continue to raise the profile andpromote a positive image of theindustry

2. Speak out on behalf of the industryin the national media and trade press

3. Represent the industry’s views and provide expertise to key-decisionmakers

4. Help you to find new commercialopportunities abroad

5. Provide networking opportunities foryour business

Director GeneralJohn Wilkinson

Technical and RegulatoryDirector, Technical and RegulatoryDirector, StandardsManager, Technical

UK Market AffairsDirector, Healthcare PolicyManager, UK Market Affairs

External RelationsDirector of External RelationsPress & Public Affairs Officer Public Affairs & Membership OfficerEvents Marketing Manager International Business Coordinator

Finance and AdministrationFacilities ManagerReceptionist/SecretaryPA to Director GeneralAccounts AdministratorAccountant and Company Secretary

Association of British Healthcare Industries111 Westminster Bridge RoadLondonSE1 7HR

Tel: (020) 7960 4360 Fax: (020) 7960 4361 E-mail: [email protected]*www.abhi.org.uk

* The ABHI secretariat can be contacted on e-mail

using [email protected]

Mike Kreuzer, OBETrudy PhelpsClive Powell

Andy TaylorJudith Mellis

Laura CollisterGuy RowlandHelen NealPaul BentonTheresa Ashford

Linette IronsMarion HarrisAngela JefferyEsther MannoukasIan Cranston

Contacts

Documents

Association of British Healthcare Industries · Association of British Healthcare Industries. Contents 1 Mission Statement 2 2006 Achievements ... to put the message across to key