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Five-Minute Interview


Published: February 11, 2011
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The Metrics of Living Well

EMDT’s series of interviews offers personal perspectives on the diverse and dynamic medical device technology industry. Here, we talk to Professor Rosanna Tarricone.

By: Rosanna Tarricone

 

Q If I were not talking to you right now, what would you be doing? I would be working with my colleagues on one of the research projects I’m currently carrying out that focuses on developing health economics for medical devices. These days, I am mainly involved in areas such as funding and access to technological innovation in healthcare systems, procurement of medical devices in hospitals, and assessment of the broad socio-economic value of medical technologies for European economies.
 
Q How did you get in the industry?
A A headhunter asked me whether I would be interested in working for Eucomed, the European Medical Technology Industry Association. After several requests, I decided to go ahead with interviews. Why? Because I was intrigued by the challenges that would come with the position. Challenges always excite me!
 
Feeling the need for more reputable, evidence-based data on the value of medical technology, the European Health Technology Institute for Socio-Economic Research (EHTI) was founded in 2006 and it was consequently an exciting step to go from my position at Eucomed to becoming Executive Director of EHTI.
 
Q What is the best thing about your work?
A It is never the same. I never get bored and never get tired. My work always recharges my batteries! My previous work at Eucomed and what I do now at EHTI is fascinating because medical technology has such a profound impact on people’s health and well-being. It is particularly motivating to know that the work we do helps to improve the quality of life for millions of people.
 
Q What do you think is the most important medical device invention ever?
A The invention of the invention! The high dynamism of this sector is very promising and gives people peace of mind knowing that our industry is already at work today to prevent or cure disease that may affect our health tomorrow. On average, a new and improved iteration of a medical technology is developed every 18 months, and procedures that would have required days of hospitalisation, such as cataract surgery, are now performed in an outpatient setting. All these inventions and innovations truly impact people’s lives for the better
 
Q What should people give more attention to?
A Quality! Quality is what makes the difference between “just living” and “living well.” Technological innovation is one of the most important drivers of quality of life and it is therefore EHTI’s and my personal commitment to carry out qualitative and robust research projects. Only then can we make this still too-green field of economic science as relevant as more mature health economics applications and put it high on the agenda of policy-makers.
 
Q What is the most exciting development on the horizon?
A Increased well-being at an older age. Nowadays, retirement means being healthy enough to enjoy the things you love. And this is possible thanks to medical technology. What is available today could only be dreamt of yesterday, and the pace of innovation is increasing evermore. It is EHTI’s job to demonstrate and quantify how relevant this evolution is to all of us.
 
Q What is the measure of success for EHTI as an independent research institute?
A The success of EHTI lies in its components. The best researchers in Europe are committed to pursuing high-level research in collaboration with—and driven by—industry and policy makers. EHTI’s work can be defined as “actionable research,” because it not only aims to be published in peer-reviewed journals but also, and more importantly, it wants to support the health-related decision-making process in Europe. In that regard, EHTI is truly unique! 
 
Professor Rosanna Tarricone
is Executive Director of the European Health Technology Institute for Socio-Economic Research (EHTI), an independent research institute aimed at developing data and evidence on the social and economic value of medical technology and its impact on the economy and welfare of European countries. EHTI is composed of prestigious European universities (Università Bocconi and the London School of Economics), policy-makers and industry (Eucomed). She can be contacted at 214d Chaussée de Wavre, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
tel. +32 2 626 9575

 

 

Published in European Medical Device Technology, February 2011, Volume 2, No. 2



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