(Frankfurt a. M., 02.04.2025) With a large number of successful companies, Germany is one of the leading locations for medical technology. Interdisciplinary collaboration between science, industry and clinical research is essential in order to harness this innovative strength and secure Germany's role as a pioneer. "However, healthcare in Germany is facing considerable challenges," warns the German Society for Biomedical Engineering within VDE (VDE DGBMT). These include rising costs due to demographic change, inefficient structures in the healthcare system, a growing shortage of specialists and the still inadequate digitalization. The DGBMT is calling politicians to create optimized framework conditions in order to maintain the leading position in medical technology in the long term. To this end, the VDE DGBMT has now published a position paper (German version) with demands to politicians.
Strengthening research transfer
Germany has a strong research base in biomedical engineering. However, the transition of innovations into clinical practice is still too slow. One reason for this is the constantly increasing regulatory requirements, such as those of the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR). In order to accelerate the transfer of research, the new position paper calls for modern funding programs that take all approval-relevant requirements into account during the early development phases. This implementation of "compliance by design" ensures the transfer of research and should be mandatory. Industry-independent clinical trials also require more funding in order to bring new technologies into practice more quickly.
Accelerate digitalization
In addition, Germany is still lagging behind when it comes to the digitalization of the healthcare system. For example, the consistent use of electronic patient records (ePA) needs to be driven forward quickly. In future, data from networked medical devices should also be integrated in order to make care more efficient and safer. "Politicians should guarantee secure access to health data for research and development and implement international standards in a binding manner," says the position paper.
Promoting innovation
Bureaucratic hurdles and excessive regulation are slowing down innovation in medical technology. Small companies and start-ups are particularly affected as they struggle with complex approval procedures and high documentation requirements. The VDE DGBMT considers it important to reduce these hurdles, avoid duplicate requirements and design funding programs with a practical focus. In addition, a binding location strategy for healthcare technologies should be developed to ensure the international competitiveness of German companies.
Ensuring safety and resilience
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown just how fragile the healthcare system is. Global supply chains, cyberattacks and the shortage of skilled workers are threatening the stability of care. In order to strengthen the resilience of the system, the VDE DGBMT is calling for Germany and Europe to strengthen their autonomy with regard to the production of critical goods through targeted political support. It is also important to invest in the training of biomedical engineering specialists and to implement targeted reforms to make the supply system crisis-proof. Intelligent storage systems for critical medical products must be established to avoid bottlenecks.
"We appeal to politicians to address these key areas of action and set the course for sustainable healthcare," says Prof. Dr. Karsten Seidl, Chairman of the VDE DGBMT. "Because only through targeted political measures can the opportunities of medical technology be optimally utilized and the challenges of the healthcare system successfully mastered."
