2023-10-11 12:03:02
Different experts highlight the importance of Spain having medical technology companies that innovate and manufacture in the country not only in order to face health crises or supplies of essential materials, but also because they provide wealth.
Canvas of a healthcare worker with a Hersill Vitae 40 respirator. EFE/Berta Pinillos
These approaches were made during the event “Spanish medical technology, the challenges of an essential sector for the health system”organized by the medical equipment manufacturing company Hersill, in collaboration with EFE, on the occasion of its 50th anniversaryin which, among others, the Madrid Minister of Health, Fátima Matute, and the former Minister of Health Ana Pastor participated.
Hersill fopened in the first wave of the coronaviruswith the help of the State and other companies, 5,100 respirators in nine weeksin addition to 52,000 oxygen flowmeters and thousands of units of other equipment, which were essential to expand hospital beds.
During the event, which was held at the Casa de América, some of the technological health devices manufactured by Hersill were on display.
A “tremendously high” scientific level
Precisely about the importance of health technology they debated the director of the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), Christopher Belda; the managing director of the Infanta Leonor Hospital in Madrid, Carmen Pantoja; the general secretary of the Spanish Federation of Health Technology (FENIN), Margarita Alfonsel; as well as Mercedes Suria, by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS).
Furthermore, in the debate, which was moderated the president of the IDIS Foundation (Institute for the Development and Integration of Health), Juan AbarcaHe participated the managing director of Hersill, Oscar Jordan.
From left to right: Cristóbal Belda, Margarita Alfonsel, Juan Abarca, Mercedes Suria, Carmen Pantoja and Óscar Jordán. EFE/David Fernández
Christopher Belda He stressed that Spain has a “tremendously high” level of scientific production and is capable of providing an R&D environment that generates additional wealth thanks to the companies that allow the real translation of what is developed in laboratories to patients “with names and surnames”.
Mercedes Suriahead of the area of manufacturing facilities and import and foreign trade of health products of the AEMPS, considered it “fundamental” that Spanish companies design and develop their technologies in the country and also that other foreign companies manufacture here to face shortage situations and respond to exceptional situations such as the covid pandemic.
Medical technology companies, an “essential” sector
Margarita Alfonsel He highlighted that health technology companies are an “essential” sector in the country and must be protected, so that Spain becomes more autonomous and reduces its dependence on international markets.
For its part, the managing director of the Infanta Leonor Hospital He pointed out that hospitals must have the best medical technology to provide greater quality to patients and for this, in his opinion, collaboration between professionals and technology companies is necessary.
Oscar Jordan He also opted for health technology to be developed in Spain and for having a “powerful” industrial fabric that will allow greater economic possibilities both internally and abroad.
Progress engine
Before the debate, the Madrid Minister of HealthFátima Matute stressed that quality healthcare is not possible without a “thriving and innovative” technological sector, convictions, she said, that are shared by the industry and the Administrations because they are “complementary.”
Former minister Ana Pastor spoke in the same sense and insisted that the path to strengthen the National Health System (SNS) is, among others, the incorporation of innovation, which has been the “engine of progress” in health and the responsible that “we live longer and in better conditions.”
At the event, led by the journalist and communicator Inés Ballester, a r also participatedRepresentative of the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI), Pilar Gonzálezwho offered a presentation on the importance of the development and manufacturing of health technology.
Family photo with the participants in the Hersill 50th anniversary event. PHOTO EFE/David Fernández
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