#TechnologyforLiving | RUTH RUÍZ | FENIN | Madrid |07 APRIL 2020
Eight keys to understanding the Federation’s action plan
- Coordination and cooperation with the Ministry of Health to identify companies that can supply or import healthcare material into Spain.
- Opening of an Air Health Corridor, in collaboration with the Oesía Group and Iberia, which has already allowed the arrival of more than 100 tons of health products in our country.
- Companies in the sector at full capacity: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism to extend and reconvert production lines.
- Search for manufacturers abroad, through business associations in different countries and the Economic and Commercial Offices of the Spanish Embassies abroad. Facilitation of imports, in collaboration with the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation.
- Collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Innovation in identifying companies in the sector that are also key to resolving the crisis.
- Fenin and the sector will not hesitate to continue to make every effort to respond to this unprecedented health crisis.
Healthcare technology plays a vital role in diagnosing, treating and supporting patients, as well as protecting healthcare professionals and preventing the increase in the number of COVID- 19 infections among the population. Therefore, in view of this world health crisis, Fenin and the Health Technology sector, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, have been implementing an unprecedented Contingency Plan for weeks, in order to increase production, imports into Spain and distribution of the health products necessary to meet the needs of our health system.
COORDINATION AND COOPERATION WITH THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH
Since the beginning of the health crisis, Fenin has been in permanent contact with the Ministry of Health and the health services, collaborating in all actions aimed at making the necessary health products available to health professionals and patients (coronavirus detection test, masks, gloves, glasses, respirators, etc. ). In this sense, Fenin has compiled and sent to the Health Authorities – Ingesa, AEMPS and the General Directorate of Basic Portfolio of Services of the NHS and Pharmacy, and Autonomous Communities – information regarding companies that can supply the necessary materials and Spanish companies that had consignments of products pending importation from China, to facilitate their shipment to Spain.
Likewise, Fenin has asked the Ministry of Health to ensure that the technical staff of the companies in the sector can access hospitals to continue providing technical support in certain surgeries, carrying out maintenance and calibration of equipment, etc. On the other hand, the Federation has also expressed the need for the thousands of technicians who come to provide home respiratory therapies to patients – some of them diagnosed with coronavirus or in quarantine – to have the protective equipment that will allow them to continue providing them with medical oxygen and other home therapies.
OPENING OF AN AIR-SANITARY CORRIDOR MADRID- SHANGHAI
The Federation, in collaboration with the Oesía Group and Iberia, has managed to launch an Air Health Corridor to increase the arrival of health products in Spain. This is an excellent public-private initiative, as it has been supported by four ministries: the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism.
In little more than a week since it was launched, thanks to the Corridor it has been possible to bring to Spain more than 100 tons and millions of medical products, which have been distributed in public and private hospitals, autonomous communities, and other countries, etc. Among this material, products as necessary as masks, protective equipment and respirators stand out. Until the end of the crisis, the Corridor will continue to operate through three weekly flights.
24/7 FULL SERVICE FACILITIES
Companies in the sector are making a huge effort, doubling their shifts, expanding their staffs and keeping their facilities open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in order to increase the manufacture, imports and distribution of surgical masks, personal protection products, hydro-alcoholic solutions, respirators and all those products that are being specially demanded for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.
CONVERSION OF MANUFACTURING LINES IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, TRADE AND TOURISM
The Federation is collaborating with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism in transferring the national production capacity of products and equipment considered critical today, as well as the conversion of some manufacturing lines of companies that, due to their facilities -in accordance with the requirements of the regulation-, can undertake the manufacture of such products.
IDENTIFICATION OF MANUFACTURERS OUTSIDE SPAIN
Fenin is in permanent contact with business associations from different countries and with Economic and Commercial Offices of the Spanish Embassies abroad to identify international manufacturers that can make available to our National Health System and in the shortest time possible, the medical products necessary to treat patients and the individual protection equipment so that the health professionals can carry out their work in adequate safety conditions.
IMPORT FACILITATION TOGETHER WITH THE AEMPS, THE MINISTRY OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND TOURISM AND THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, EU AND COOPERATION
The Federation is also working intensively with the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Healthcare Products (AEMPS), the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation in order to speed up imports of healthcare products into Spain as much as possible.
COLLABORATION WITH THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND INNOVATION
Fenin is collaborating with the Ministry of Science and Innovation to identify companies in the sector that, due to their primary or secondary productive activities, are also key to solving the crisis. For the Federation and the Health Technology sector, the safety of patients, health professionals and the general population is a constant priority. Therefore, Fenin and the Sector, in collaboration with the Health Authorities, will not hesitate to continue making every effort to respond to this unprecedented situation.
Finally, the Federation wishes to reiterate its support, gratitude and recognition to the health workers of our country, as well as the rest of the agents of the system that are fighting against COVID-19. It also wishes to acknowledge once again the dedication and commitment of the employees of our companies who, in these special and difficult circumstances, are working to the best of their abilities to ensure that our healthcare system has as many medical devices as possible that are essential to solving this healthcare crisis.
The Spanish Federation of Healthcare Technology Companies represents more than 500 manufacturing and distribution companies in Spain, which constitute more than 80% of the total turnover. The national market is part, together with Germany, United Kingdom, France and Italy, of the five countries that represent 75% of the European market. Likewise, the Health Technology sector has been identified as a strategic agent in the health field and as one of the priority markets within the State Innovation Strategy.
Founded in 1977, the Federation works for the research and technological development, which allows to put within reach of all technologies, products and services that improve the prevention, the diagnosis, the treatment and the control and follow-up of the diseases.
