
The Advanced Medical Technology Assn. today unveiled a new 3-year, 3-prong strategy for overcoming the "significant regulatory and economic challenges facing the industry."
New AdvaMed chairman and Zimmer (NYSE:ZMH) president & CEO David Dvorak highlighted the initiatives that will be the focus of his 2-year term:
- Increased international presence in key emerging markets, including China, Brazil and India
- In-house research capability to develop "sound science and objective evidence needed to enlighten policy arguments"
- Stronger communication and engagement with AdvaMed member company employees, patients groups and providers
"Pursuing these priorities will help ensure the continued flow of life-saving medical devices and diagnostics to patients and will maintain the industry as a source of well-paying, high-tech jobs," Dvorak said in prepared remarks. He was named chairman last month after the group’s original choice, ex-Stryker Corp. (NYSE:SYK) CEO Stephen MacMillan, abruptly resigned for "family reasons."
Dvorak also highlighted policy initiatives that will be his "top priorities" during his tenure, which include the repeal of the impending 2.3% medical device tax, pushing through the latest FDA medical device user fee agreement and working with the FDA to streamline the device review process.
"The timeliness and predictability of FDA reviews, the medical device tax, delivery system reforms – these are just a few of the issues that threaten the U.S. medical technology industry’s global leadership in innovation and ones that AdvaMed will continue to focus on," AdvaMed president & CEO Stephen Ubl said in a statement. "At the same time, an aging global population, a rise in chronic disease and growing pressure on countries to reduce health care costs provide the industry with enormous opportunities."