Adnkronos Rome, June 18 (Adnkronos Salute) – "Healthcare is local, but technologies are global". This was stated by Yadin David, president of the Global Clinical Engineering Alliance (Gcea), speaking in Naples at the 25th Aiic Conference, the Italian Association of Clinical Engineers, in the session 'Biomedical technologies and sustainability: a European perspective', effectively identifying the scenario in which the international community of clinical engineers is moving today.
Identical technologies, but multiple procurement and implementation systems, technical affinities and profound management and system differences: Aiic has brought to the table a series of international experiences – as stated in a note – to find that commonality of intent that is the basic platform for a useful and effective dialogue.
"The situation of biomedical technologies and their sustainability - from regulatory regulation to operational management, from environmental sustainability to equal access - in the European context appears relatively homogeneous today - observes Umberto Nocco, president of Aiic - this does not mean that everything is perfectly regulated or harmonized, but rather that there is a level of maturity and stability in the approach to the use of technologies that allows for uniform management among the different member countries. A clear sign of this maturity is the presence, in most European states, of scientific societies that represent clinical engineers and professionals in the sector. Furthermore, despite its complexities - he clarifies - there is a common regulatory framework at the European Union level that, although initially conceived to regulate the production of technologies, can also be usefully applied by those who adopt them or support their introduction into healthcare systems. This contributes to building a more transparent and efficient system, also oriented towards the overall sustainability of the healthcare sector. In this system we feel the need to create a homogeneous network of professionals who share common visions and paths".
In detail, based on what emerged from the European contributions during the Aiic event, it emerges that "the French system of clinical engineering (Afib) is advanced and comparable to the Italian one - explains Stefano Bergamasco, Aiic representative for international relations - A bilateral agreement with Afib is already in force with Aiic that provides for cross-participation in events, training exchanges and scientific collaborations". The association of clinical engineering in Greece, although smaller in size, stands out for its integration with the academic world. In particular, it is creating a national system of inventory and monitoring of biomedical technologies, also useful for surveillance purposes. Lastly, Spain where "the profession lives in a similar panorama to ours - specifies Bergamasco - although with a more limited associative structure". A collaboration agreement was signed with the Spanish in Naples, which aims to achieve the common goal of formal recognition of the figure of the clinical engineer, not yet required in a mandatory way in the hospitals of the two countries.
Community of experiences and need for networking: "an evident and recognized community of problems and objectives – highlights Bergamasco – has pushed us to promote with determination the birth of a structured European network, also leveraging the common membership in the Gcea. Today we are working on the establishment of a European chapter within the Global Alliance, a project that has received the full support of President David and future President Mladen Poluta, who spoke via connection. Both have underlined the importance of strengthening European representation within the global panorama of clinical engineering".
In this direction, President Nocco underlined the crucial role of institutional dialogue to define useful relationships for the new common professional entity. "As Aiic, we have already had several discussions with representatives of the Directorate-General for Health of the European Commission, who have indicated to us the need to aggregate several European associations in a representative entity. We have also been advised to register with the Commission's Transparency Register, which allows registered organizations to participate in technical and legislative tables on medical devices and health technologies. A fundamental step - he concludes - to give a technical and competent voice to the world of clinical engineering".