BRUSSELS – 14 September 2016 – By targeting the same broad areas defined by Horizon 2020 and the Horizon 2020 healthcare objectives, COCIR members can make a vital contribution to delivering the EU’s 2020 healthcare objectives. COCIR’s Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) sets out the important role its members can play in tackling issues of unmet medical need and the growing economic burden of chronic diseases. 

The COCIR SRA, published today, is based on an integrated care approach and provides an in-depth analysis of major technology trends, which will contribute to shaping healthcare decision-making in a number of key areas. It articulates solutions that are being developed to support efficient prevention and diagnosis through imaging technologies, as well as taking advantage of innovative radiotherapy technologies to treat various cancers. Clinical decision-making and distributed workflows are supported via eHealth’s vital contribution in realising the much-needed shift from treatment-centred to patient-centred healthcare as well as realising the potential offered by integrated care covering the entire patient care pathway. 

Nicole Denjoy, COCIR Secretary General, said; “Through our COCIR SRA, we want to bring greater visibility on how our innovative medical technologies can transform both the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare systems.” She continued; ”Medical technology increasingly provides the backbone of prevention, early diagnosis and after-care while tackling treatment and providing treatment decisions support. Realising its full potential will lead to better outcomes in many diseases areas, particularly cancers.”

To maximise the value of the SRA in realising these common goals, COCIR calls on the European Commission and EU Member States to better align research opportunities to these needs. It urges them to show flexibility to business models that leverage in-house research and to support the uptake and real world use of innovation in medical technologies. COCIR also calls for a realistic regulatory environment that does not unduly hinder research and innovation.

Medical technologies such as imaging, radiotherapy and eHealth solutions, are already allowing healthcare policymakers and providers to actively address many of the pressing issues they face. They are also helping target prevention - reducing overall costs, particularly the expense of treating costly chronic conditions - and providing the insights for evidence based decisions.

For more information, contact:

Nicole Denjoy 
COCIR Secretary General        
Tel: +32 (0)2 706 8961
denjoy@cocir.org      

Colin Mackay

COCIR Communications Senior Advisor

Tel: +32 (0) 473 43 07 52  

press@cocir.org