EDMA Valná hromada a nové předsednictvo
Press Release
29 October 2009
Advancing IVDs since 1979
EDMA, the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association, celebrated its 30th
Anniversary yesterday in Brussels.
EDMA, the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association, celebrated its 30th Anniversary yesterday with a gala dinner at the Théâtre du Vaudeville in Brussels, preceded by the Association's General Assembly.
The highlights of the day were the election of EDMA's new President Jürgen Schulze and some changes in the current outlook of the EDMA Executive Committee. Jürgen Schulze is well-known for his outstanding commitment to the diagnostic industry. In 1997, he became a board member of the German National Association VDGH and was nominated President of VDGH in 2007. He has been Managing Director of SYSMEX Europe and SYSMEX Deutschland since 1995. Prior to that, he held several business functions in the IVD industry, mainly linked to Merck AG and Bayer Diagnostics, both in Europe and in the USA.
In commenting upon his election, Mr. Schulze declared that he will be pleased to contribute to the strategic direction of EDMA for the challenging years to come. Thirty years ago, seven National Associations met in Brussels to found EDMA - Mr. Schulze continued - as they felt the need to move from a purely national to a European representation of the IVD industry. Today EDMA membership amounts to 23 National Associations and 39 corporate members. These numbers clearly demonstrate that EDMA has successfully achieved its goal of becoming recognized as the legitimate voice of IVD industry in Europe.
Confirming EDMA's position at the forefront of European Affairs, and as a constructive partner for European authorities in the public debate on healthcare and IVD, among the guest speakers there were a variety of representatives from the European Commission and WHO Europe. Paolo Testori-Coggi, Deputy Director General at DG Health and Consumer Protection, emphasised during her intervention how IVDs play a vital role in public health policies. On the same line, several speakers from the WHO commented that efficient diagnostics are central to the success of most of the upcoming WHO projects, especially in the Developing World.
Outgoing President Jean-Francois de Lavison expressed satisfaction for his four years on EDMA's driving seat, and praised the EDMA team for the great contribution in steering EDMA activities, and in guaranteeing the success of the association.
New EDMA Executive Committee
President: Jürgen Schulze (VDGH/Sysmex)
Vice-Presidents: David Atkins (BIVDA/Johnson & Johnson) and Jaime Contreras
(Abbott)
Treasurer: Benny Ons (UNAMEC/BD)
Members:
Jean-Francois de Lavison (Mérieux Alliance),
Ugo Gay (Assobiomedica/ Diasorin),
Werner Hofacher (Beckman Coulter),
Roberto Parotelli (Bayer Diabetes Care),
Christian Parry ( Stago),
Jürgen Schwiezer (Roche Diagnostics) and
Stefan Wolf (Siemens).
Background:
In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) testing provides objective information as a basis for better decisions in healthcare. The European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association, EDMA, represents the IVD industry active in Europe. The mission of EDMA is to promote the value of in vitro testing and to raise awareness of the importance, usefulness and added-value that diagnostic information can provide to healthcare. For this purpose, EDMA cooperates with European institutions, patients groups, trade associations, health professionals and academia to support an appropriate regulatory system, to work towards a realistic economic environment for health care in Europe and to be an effective voice in globalisation.