The Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI), the trade body for the UK’s healthtech sector, will be taking key members of its senior leadership team to MEDICA for the first time, to offer expertise and support to all of its UK exhibitors.
Richard Phillips, director, policy & communications.
Phillips joined ABHI in June 2015, with over 20 years’ experience in life sciences. With strong connections into the NHS and its leadership structures, he has a great understanding of policy, NHS strategy and the opportunities for UK companies to engage with the system and accelerate the adoption of their technologies and services.
With Healthtech’s reach increasingly widening, the role of policy, and how government measures impact business, has arguably never been more significant. Brexit is one area, and Phillips has managed ABHI’s interactions on the issue since the UK voted to leave the European Union – advocating for the continued supply of products to patients no matter than outcome.
Elsewhere, Phillips provides regular expert commentary on the direction of NHS travel. The NHS Long Term Plan, for example, details a number of areas where companies can engage with the system to support its vision. Companies at MEDICA 2019 would benefit from spending time with him to see where their health technologies align with government priorities at both regional and national level.
Phil Brown, director, technical and regulatory.
Brown has over 30 years’ experience of working with novel technologies and liaising with national authorities, the European Commission, trade associations and standards bodies on issues related to regulation and ethics.
With deep knowledge of Healthtech regulation in the UK and Europe, Brown is currently working with UK businesses to support their transition to the Medical Device Regulation. The process has come under increased scrutiny of late, with issues of capacity, particularly with regard to notified body accreditation, and wider system preparedness causing concern for many companies.
Brown is in regular dialogue with the MHRA and partners at both national and international level to find measures that will mitigate against the risk of companies being unable to place products on the market after May 2020. The situation is of course further complicated by the UK’s future relationship with the EU.
Regulation is business critical. Without full compliance, companies cannot operate. Those exhibiting with ABHI at MEDICA 2019 are therefore strongly advised to spend time to Brown to assess their readiness for the impending changes to the system.
Andrew Davies, digital health lead
Davies has over 25 years’ experience in the health technology sector, having worked within a number of household names before joining ABHI. His experience has covered roles in UK and international marketing, market access and business development across both capital and consumable equipment. Recent years have seen Davies head-up ABHI’s Market Access function, ensuring that system processes are aligned to safely adopt the latest in HealthTech.
As of July 2019, Davies’ role was refined to focus solely on digital health; a position which sees an emphasis on promoting the opportunities where UK HealthTech companies can play a part in the unfolding environment of digitally-assisted heath care. Davies is currently working with companies to develop and advocate ABHI’s position in regards to the ability of the UK health and care system to support and rapidly adopt new technologies and services.
He says: “Digital technologies have the ability to support a more efficient and effective health system, with significant benefits to patient care. Access to well curated data sets is critical for industry to apply their skills, knowledge and resources, unleashing the potential low of life saving and enhancing innovations. We are therefore working with the NHS, and the health system more broadly, to develop the necessary security, regulatory and ethical infrastructure that will enable the development and adoption of such innovations.”
UK companies at MEDICA 2019, both big and small, should speak with Davies and become part of this national conversation around digital adoption.
Taking place from 18-21st November in Dusseldorf, Germany, MEDICA attracts over 5,000 exhibitors from 70 countries and plays host to tens of thousands of visitors every year. The ABHI UK Pavilion will be located in hall 16.
