Dalli Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy

The European Parliament has voted in favour of President Barroso’s new Commission team. The Medical Devices Unit falls under Commissioner Dalli’s new competencies in DG SANCO. Eucomed, the European medical technology industry association said in an announcement that it especially looks forward to working with John Dalli, the Commissioner for Health and Consumer Affairs to address his priorities such as “the development of effective and efficient healthcare systems in all Member States, leading to longer and healthier lives.” It is also committed to supporting Dalli’s underlying approach of “patients first,” because it believes that this could be pursued in ways that do not strangle the small and medium-sized companies in the industry or restrict their competitiveness.

John Wilkinson, Chief Executive of Eucomed, says, “A new Commission always brings new challenges for an association like ours as we need to work with many new people. At the same time, it is an opportunity to demonstrate the benefits that the medical technology industry brings to society. In that sense, the Exploratory Process will already help us considerably to raise awareness and to improve understanding of our sector.”

DG SANCO is important to the medical technology industry, but Eucomed is also looking forward to actively working with the other Commissioners from DG Trade, DG Digital Agenda (former DG Information & Society), DG Industry and Entrepreneurship, and DG Research, Innovation and Science. “Our sector is one of the most innovative in Europe and contributes effectively to achieving their goals,” he adds.

The new Commissioners are appointed for a period of 5 years.

Tags: DG SANCO