May NUI Galway to Hold Seminar on Health Economic Evaluation of Medical Devices

Health Economics is increasingly being used to inform research and development about the design and development of new medical technologies and is also a vital component in determining the commercial viability of new medical technologies. The Health Economic and Policy Analysis Centre in collaboration with CÚRAM, the Science Foundation Ireland Centre for Research in Medical Devices at NUI Galway will hold a seminar to discuss the challenges associated with the health economic assessment of medical devices with reference to recent regulatory changes. 

Researchers at the Health Economics and Policy Analysis Centre (HEPAC) at NUI Galway are currently applying health economic methods to explore a range of research questions in relation to medical devices, and a wide range of chronic disease areas including ageing, dementia, disability, mental health, chronic disease, cancer, and obesity. While the research is mainly of an applied nature with an emphasis on peer-reviewed academic output, members of HEPAC also engage and contribute to policy formulation in a range of areas at national and international level. Current research projects include those funded by agencies such as the Health Research Board, Science Foundation Ireland, Atlantic Philanthropies, and industry partners.

The following topics will be discussed:

• The particular characteristics of medical devices that lead to additional challenges for health technology assessment of medical devices.
• Key aspects of the conduct and methods of health technology assessment for medical devices. 
• The key recommendations for improvements in processes and methods that could enhance the potential for health technology assessment and optimise the diffusion of medical devices.

This seminar is aimed at medical device developers, manufacturers, regulators, healthcare practitioners, analysts, consultants, and health technology assessors interested in the health economic assessment processes aimed at informing key decision making throughout the full development and evaluation pathway of medical devices. Those attending may be new to the field of health technology assessment of medical devices and may be working in an academic or industry environment. This seminar will also be suitable for experienced analysts interested in having a deeper understanding of the challenges of medical device evaluation.

Keynote speaker Professor Rosanna Tarricone, is an Associate Professor in Public Administration at Bocconi University, Milan and Associate Dean at SDA Bocconi School of Management. She graduated in Business Administration at Bocconi University and holds an MSc in Health Services Management and a PhD in Public Health and Policy, both from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UL, UK. She has over 100 publications in the areas of health policy, healthcare management, economic analysis of health care services and health technology assessment. In recent years she has focussed on health technology assessment of medical devices and has been the leader of a large, three-year EU-funded research project ‘MedtecHTA’ that has made recommendations on how to improve methods for assessing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of health technologies. Rosanna also serves as advisor for the Ministry of Health of Italy and as an expert to the Director General of Research and Director General of Health of the European Commission. Professor Tarricone is also a member of the International Association of Health Economics, the International Health Technology Assessment organisation and the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcome Research where she also served as member of the Board.

Dr Michelle Queally, Discipline of Economics and CÚRAM at NUI Galway, said: The medical device sector is very important for Ireland and indeed more locally in Galway. Europe’s premier cluster of medical device companies is based in the Galway region. The Health Economics and Policy Analysis Centre in collaboration with CÚRAM at NUI Galway are very much looking forward to linking in with local and national medical device companies at our upcoming seminar on 13 May. Establishing value in healthcare including medical devices is a growing area of concern, particularly in light of recent regulation changes. We are delighted to host our visiting speaker, global expert in the field, Professor Tarricone to discuss the challenges and recommendations in the economic evaluation of medical devices and we look forward to a lively discussion.”

The seminar will take place on Monday, 13 May from 9am to 12pm at the Institute for Lifecourse and Society, North Campus, NUI Galway. 

For further information and for registration contact Michelle Queally at michelle.queally@nuigalway.ie or on 091- 492934.

To register for the event, visit: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/health-economics-for-the-evaluation-of-medical-devices-tickets-56561541092

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