BVMed-Report

German Medical Technology Association, Reinhardtstr. 29b, D-10117 Berlin Phone: (+49) 30 246 255-0, eMail: [email protected] - www.bvmed.de Report No. 03/06 – March 2006

Average SHI contribution Medical technology sector 2005: 2 per cent reported rate of 13.3 per cent turnover growth for BVMed member companies Bonn/. Some 210 member com- bandaging sector even fell by 0.1 per Berlin. The average premium rate of panies of the German Medical Technolo- cent, compared to last year. the Statutory Health Insurance funds gy Association (BVMed) have recorded a On the other hand, the development of on January 1, 2006 was 13.3 per cent. turnover of 2 per cent for 2005, a slight other subsectors was slightly more po- According to Federal Health Minister improvement on last year’s figure. This sitive: the category “single-use surgical Ulla , this would mean that was the result reported in BVMed’s tur- equipment” rose by 2.8 per cent. The it had been possible to keep SHI con- nover statistics for the whole of 2005. In growth in turnover in the “single-use tribution rates stable as compared to 2004, turnover growth had been a mere devices, intensive care medicine, nursing the previous year in spite of difficult 1.5 per cent, said BVMed Director Gene- items” sectors was some 4 per cent. This general conditions and increasing ral Joachim M. Schmitt at the presentati- rise in turnover, however, is mainly based drug expenditures. However, this on of the association’s figures in Berlin. on volume growth. does not include a contribution of 0.9 The development of the medical tech- In BVMed’s opinion, a long-term reori- percent, which the medically insured nical aids sector was particularly dis- entation in healthcare policy is needed, must pay themselves. appointing. Ostomy and incontinence with increased competition elements, aids stagnated with a nominal turnover more freedom of choice for the medical- growth of only 0.2 per cent, compared ly-insured, and less regulation for com- Healthcare reform with the particularly bad year expe- panies, doctors and hospitals. Berlin. The parliamentary leaders of rienced by medtech aids in 2004. The More: www.bvmed.de (Press Releases). Christian Union and Social Democrats, and Peter Struck, bet on a harmonized approach of the coaliti- on leadership. Stuck announced that IQWiG on minimum procedure volumes for knee TEP a select team would set to the task of finding a solution to begin with. Cologne/Germany. A statistical connec- be derived from healthcare data. On the Kauder stated that the party and par- tion between the quantity and the quali- one hand, the informative value of the liamentary leaders would determine ty of results in knee total endoprosthesis presently available data is too low. The „various fundamental issues“ before (knee TEP) can be documented on the results are also contradictory: Depen- the specialists got down to work. basis of German healthcare data. This ding on the quality indicator, the rela- conclusion has been reached in a report tion between the number of cases and of the Institute for Quality and Efficien- the result can be very different. Link to MedTech@Olympics cy in Healthcare (IQWiG). On behalf of the final report (German language only): Berlin. Georg Hettich, the German the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA), the www.iqwig.de/de/auftraege/biome- gold medal winner in the Nordic Com- institute was charged with developing a trie_/b05-01a/b05-01a.html. bined (Ski jumping and cross-country calculation model which would make it The IQWiG was formed and is governed skiing) at the Olympic Games in Tori- possible to determine threshold values by a private foundation, established by no, is a student of medical technology. for knee TEP. However, according to the the Joint Federal Committee (JFC, Ge- The 29-year old will write his diploma institute, universal threshold values for meinsamer Bundesausschuss) that self- thesis in the summer of 2006. minimum procedure volumes cannot administers the German health services.

MedInsight Germany: Latest News on Europe’s Biggest Market!

Topics from the new issue are e. g.: G-DRG innovation clause must be im- proved; German Chancellor counts on innovation; Healthcare Reform entering a critical phase; Every fourth clinic endan- gered?; Rhön hospital group permitted to purchase university hospital; Average SHI contribution rate of 13.3 per cent; Over two million people in DMPs. AdvaMed and BVMed member compa- nies can receive „MedInsight Germany“ at a discounted subscription price of 600 euros per year (10 issues). The normal subscription fee is 1.200 euros for one year. You can order a free issue of the month- Berlin. MedInform has published a new and Manfred Beeres together with Ste- ly MedInsight in English language by e- issue of MedInsight Germany, a back- phen Hull from AdvaMed. MedInsight gi- mail at: [email protected]. ground report authored by the German ves the latest news on Europe’s biggest More information and online ordering MedTech experts Joachim M. Schmitt Medtech-market. at: www.medinsight.de.