Italian Survey Shows Centralised Purchasing of Medical Devices Does not Reduce Price; Medical Devices Often Undervalued as Analyses Focus Only on Short-term Financial and Economic Aspects

ROME, April 16, 2010 - Centralised purchasing of medical devices does not
reduce prices and medical devices are often undervalued as analyses focus
only on the short-term financial and economic perspectives. This was the core
message that was presented by Prof Rosanna Tarricone, Executive Director of
the European Health Technology Institute for Socio-Economic Research (EHTI)
and Associate Professor at Bocconi University, at the 3rd National Congress
on Medical Devices which took place on 13-14 April 2010 in Rome.

During the opening session on the second day of the Congress, Prof
Tarricone summarized the conclusions of a survey conducted from 2007 to 2009
in Italy by the General Directorate of Drugs and Medical Devices of the
Italian Ministry of Health in cooperation with CERGAS Bocconi University. The
aim of the survey was investigating the main aspects of procurement
procedures, expenditures and consumption of medical devices, and capital
equipment for imaging. Cardiovascular, orthopaedic and
neurosurgery/neuroradiology products were explored.

"Data shows that while procurement procedures become more centralised,
prices coefficient of variation (CV) decreases to almost nil. However, such
phenomenon is not correlated with the inter-regional prices variability
observed for each category of medical devices. In other words, centralised
purchases are not always predictive of lower prices," says Prof Tarricone.

Another aspect under investigation was the presence of Health Technology
Assessment (HTA) Commissions. "Almost all the Local Health Authorities (LHA)
sampled for the survey have established a HTA Commission for medical devices.
Nevertheless, the activities of such Commissions are often limited to a
partial evaluation, mainly focusing on the short-term financial and economic
perspectives. This approach is also confirmed by the purchasing analysis that
mainly focuses on the 'most valuable economic criterium', excluding any other
evaluation of the value of medical devices," she ends.

This survey has highlighted the interest in the medical devices sector
and the importance of their correct evaluation by policy and decision-makers.
Its results demonstrate a growing acknowledgement from the Local Health
Authorities and Regions that effective tools for the assessment and
management of medical devices are needed.

About EHTI

Since 2007, EHTI is realising the potential of medical technology in
Europe by filling the research gap, enabling policymakers to make informed
decisions that vastly improve systems' efficiency and quality of life for
all. In doing so, the Research Institute also aims to build strong
partnerships among leading figures in academia, industry and government. By
mobilising the synergies between these partners, it aims at enhancing the
production of top-quality research.

www.ehti.info

Source: EHTI

Contact: Rosanna Tarricone, Executive Director EHTI, Rosanna.tarricone at ehti.info, +39-0258365481