HFE welcomed the Commission’s points to:
- Increase co-operation between Member States to promote research excellence
- Augment investment in the EU budget allocated to health
- Use of open method of co-ordination as a mean to maximise the practical benefits, good ideas and innovation across the EU.
Nevertheless, HFE stressed that the research, development and provision of innovative medical technology solutions can play a critical role in meeting the competitiveness goals of the Lisbon agenda, and therefore should not be sidelined when discussing the details of the Commission’s Programme. Thus, HFE called for further focus on medical technology innovation as a policy objective.
Moreover, the letter to the Rapporteur highlighted the support for education and training of healthcare workers, and tackling of administrative barriers with respect to proposal evaluation, training and funding opportunities currently hindering medical innovation and research.