European trade association COCIR consolidates its advocacy and action plans ahead of 2024 European parliament elections

In March 2024, Philips Vice-President and Global Head of Government & Public Affairs Jan-Willem Scheijgrond was elected president of COCIR, the European Trade Association representing the medical imaging, radiotherapy, health ICT and electromedical industries. We spoke to Jan-Willem and COCIR Secretary General Annabel Seebohm about the role of COCIR and the challenges the EU faces in delivering better care to its citizens and maintaining the block’s competitiveness in global healthcare markets.

Q. What is COCIR, what are its aims, and what has it achieved over the years?

Annabel Seebohm (AS) : COCIR is a European Trade Association founded in 1959 and headquartered in Brussels that represents the medical technology industry in the EU in three specific areas – radiology imaging, image-guided therapy, and health ICT.  It provides a collective voice for these sectors, advocating towards European institutions to ensure the industry’s concerns are heard and addressed. In terms of disease areas, COCIR primarily focuses on non-communicable diseases, notably cancer and more recently cardiovascular disease, but it also plays a crucial role in disaster preparedness – for example, advocating for strategic stockpiling of medical supplies and critical device lists. It also promotes research into sustainable healthcare solutions, aiming to provide safe and effective treatments. In recent years, COCIR has actively contributed to Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan by advocating for comprehensive screening recommendations and increased access to radiotherapy. It also played a pioneering role in shaping the European Health Data Space, ensuring that legislative frameworks support innovation while safeguarding intellectual property rights. Our mission emphasizes placing the patient at the center of everything we do, as we strive to develop smart solutions that improve healthcare outcomes.

Q. What are the biggest healthcare challenges that Europe needs to address and how can COCIR help meet them?

Jan-Willem Scheijgrond (JWS) : One of the biggest challenges for Europe is its aging population, which has led to the increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. COCIR’s members are actively involved in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan – we haven’t beaten cancer yet, so we can further intensify our efforts. Then there are cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and coronary heart disease, which need a dedicated health program at the European level that stimulates innovation and establishes large cross-border initiatives. In terms of digital health technology, the European Health Data Space has accelerated the digital transition by creating infrastructure, rules, and standards on how data can be exchanged responsibly. But we still need to find ways of using all that data to make doctors’ lives easier and deliver better outcomes for patients, which means further leveraging the power of artificial intelligence. We also need to find ways of using the data to accurately measure the effectiveness of preventative care in order to create financial incentives for prevention. And all this needs to be done in a sustainable way to make sure healthy people live on a healthy planet.