AdvaMed said today it signed a strategic cooperation deal with the People’s Government of Xining Municipality in China’s Qinghai Province to promote health and scientific research in the region.
The agreement is designed to encourage cooperation and exchanges between international med tech companies, including AdvaMed member companies, in Xining. AdvaMed said Xining is rapidly developing into a hub for healthcare R&D.
“While cooperation under this framework agreement is based in Qinghai, we look forward to cooperating with the region more broadly, and are committed to promoting the clinical application of advanced medical technology in China. This agreement represents a win-win for AdvaMed members and Chinese patients, as we continue to strengthen ties to help ensure patient access to advanced medical devices, diagnostics and therapies that will save more lives and improve their quality of life,” exec veep Ralph Ives said in prepared remarks.
AdvaMed said more than 100 Chinese government officials, including the Qinghai governor and other senior government officials from the region, as well as members of the China FDA and National Health and Family Planning Commission were on hand for the signing.
“This event reflects AdvaMed’s expanding and strengthening commitment and investment in China. China is one of the world’s fastest growing markets for medical technology, and many of our members have made significant investments there, establishing R&D centers and manufacturing bases that contribute to China’s growth. We look forward to continuing to work with the Chinese government and other stakeholders to help make patients’ lives better through medical technology,” Ives said in a press release.
In September, AdvaMed said its longtime CEO Steve Ubl resigned from his position, effective October 15.
Ubl has spent 16 years with AdvaMed, with the last 10 years of his tenure as president & CEO, raising the medical device industry’s national profile and leading the fight against the medical device tax enacted as part of Obamacare. Ubl lead the group in international expansion, including a recently opened office in China AdvaMed said.
Ubl was the 6th-highest-paid healthcare lobbyist last year, with total compensation of almost $2 million, according to an analysis by Modern Healthcare.