The ABHI works for the healthcare technology industry in the
United Kingdom in many ways. The involvement operates across the
continuum from early innovations to driving for efficiencies in the
interactions between large businesses and their customers. It spans
industry best practice, practical export support and targeted
influencing of the policy makers.
Operating through four overarching policy groups the activities
of the Association reflect the priorities of the industry today and
match these to the needs of patients, clinicians and the healthcare
system as a whole.
Policy Groups direct the activities of the Association and
define the roles of working groups, forums and broader
communications and influencing activities to ensure that these stay
very relevant to the current concerns of industry as well as
anticipating future changes and helping to shape these.
Special Interest Sections allow groups of members with
particular shared interests to get together and generate common
positions on such things as reimbursement, regulatory frameworks,
clinical practice and training issues.
The Research and Innovation activities are focused on improving
the environment for research and development in the UK and
encouraging industrial development and investment.
UK Market
activities focus on doing business in the UK especially with the
NHS and deals with procurement, reimbursement systems (Payment by
Results and the Drug Tariff) and health technology assessment (
NICE, the HTA Programme of the Department of Health and the Device
Evaluation Service). There is much activity focussed on promoting a
better understanding of the value of the products and services
provided by the medical technology industry with a particular focus
on patient benefits.
Technical
and Regulatory work has always underpinned the Association’s
activities from the days when the Medical Devices Directives were
first drafted through to influencing the development of new
regulatory frameworks for technologies such as human tissue
engineered products and device-drug combinations. Strong
relationships with Eucomed (the European Association for the
medical technology sector) and other trade bodies are a key element
in our ability to influence the legislative frameworks that
determine how businesses can operate in the European Union and
beyond.
Our International Activities group work focuses on supporting
exporters including helping them to make the first steps into new
markets. We do this via strong relationships with Government
agencies and by very practical management of exhibitions.
Opinions, policy and strategies for industry are no good if no
one hears of them. Our Public Affairs activities are designed to ensure that
the industry gets a seat at the table when important decisions are
made and is focused on input into policy at an early stage.
Our Media activity focuses on raising the profile of our
industry.
As a highly ethical industry dealing with the people’s lives
high standards of behaviour are demanded and the Association
supports this with a programme of Standards of
Practice.