Media Centre :: Press Release
01/01/02
ABHI responds to MDA/MCA merged agency
announcement
The ABHI (Association of British Health-Care
Industries) today responded to the announcement from the Health
Minister, Lord Philip Hunt that the MDA and the MCA will amalgamate
from April 1st 2003.
The idea of a joint agency has been on the backburner since 1999,
when ABHI lobbied successfully against a merger. ABHI contended
then , as now, that there could be an adverse effect on the
industry, its costs and competitiveness.
"We are therefore pleased to accept the Department of Health's
guarantee that there will be no effect on the legislation and
regulatory processes for devices or the status of the industry,"
said Gordon Aylward, Director-General of the ABHI.
"However, we remain very concerned about the lack of detail - and
there is no statement yet on maintaining the innovative role of the
industry in achieving NHS targets. Our concerns include possible
adverse cost and process charges and we claim seats, on the new
agency's Board, to ensure a balanced strategy"
"Medical Devices are radically different from medicines and despite
the identification of 'blurred boundaries' by Lord Hunt today; the
product overlap is small"
ABHI now look forward to consulting within the framework set by the
Department of Health regarding the implementation of the new
executive agency.
Notes for editors: * The Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI) is the lead trade association for the medical systems industry. This sector comprises not only manufacturers of medical devices, equipment and consumables, but also service companies, distributors, professional groups (such as regulatory consultants and lawyers), and other suppliers to the medical community.
* The ABHI represents approx. 200 member companies with a total domestic turnover of about £3 billion representing approx. 80% of the industry output.
* The membership currently includes several Special Interest Sections and four sectoral trade associations, which in turn have a further 400 member companies.
* Member list: www.abhi.org.uk
* The role of the Association is to:
- Advance and promote medical systems (devices, equipment, technologies and services) within the UK and globally.
- Provide a forum for policy discussion with the industry's customers, legislators, public bodies and interested groups.
For further information contact:
Daniel Jones: 020 7960 4360
Email: daniel.jones@abhi.org.uk
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