Past events 2012

Utrecht WHO Winter Meeting

Utrecht WHO Winter Meeting, 5-6 January 2012

The successful format of previous editions – one day of parallel discussion sessions and the other day a plenary programme with key note speakers - has been maintained this year.
This years meeting brought together around 50 researchers and policy makers from many (approx. 20) different countries. The meeting started on Thursday with young researchers from different professional backgrounds who discussed their ongoing or planned work. We sincerely hope that these discussions contributed to bringing evidence-based policy making on pharmaceuticals to a higher level.

"Bridging the worlds of medicines and medical devices" had been chosen as central theme for the second day. This day was build on the outcomes of the Priority Medical Devices project produced under the direction of Josée Hansen. This project was initiated in 2007 by WHO in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports to determine whether medical devices currently on the market were meeting the needs of health care providers and end-users throughout the world and if not, to propose research to identify - and action to remedy- inadequacies or shortcomings.
Invited speakers including those involved in the Priority Medical Devices project discussed differences and similarities between medicines and medical devices and opportunities for joint learning. The meeting aimed to involve all participants in summarising key lessons learned and identifying research subjects in the field of medical devices and medicines.
We would like to thank the ley note speakers and all presenters of the first day for your contributions and hope that you will continue to contribute by sharing your thoughts and expertise throughout the meeting.

The conference report for this meeting can be found here.

Presentations day 2 '‘Everything you wanted to know about ................ but were afraid to ask’ – Bridging the worlds of medicines and medical devices'

Commonalities and differences between medicines and medical devices. How to get the best of both worlds? - Josee Hansen (Dutch Health Care Inspectorate, former project leader WHO Priority Medical Devices Project)
From research and development to market launch/authorisation – research choices from a public health perspective - Bert Leufkens (Medicines Evaluation Board)
Selection and health technology management and assessment – clinical choices in regions, countries and health care facilities - Medicines perspective: Richard Laing WHO)
Selection and health technology management and assessment – clinical choices in regions, countries and health care facilities - Medical devices perspective: Geoffrey Graham(WHO)
Medicines and medical devices: two worlds not so much apart anymore - Erik Vollebregt (Axon Lawyers)