Medical products: new and needed! An investment strategy for research into innovative and relevant medical products

The health service is facing enormous challenges. New and innovative medical products will be essential if we are to cope with these challenges. New medical products are important tools in the effort to achieve goals such as better care, more efficient care, and greater labour productivity. In view of this, and given his special responsibility for the Dutch health service, it is therefore not surprising that the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport has asked the Advisory Committee on Health Research (RGO) to recommend specific points for inclusion in a medical products research agenda. In this advisory report ‘medical products’ are defined as: drugs, medical devices related to diagnosis and care, and tissue replacement products.

Committee

• Prof. G.H. Blijham, Professor of Internal Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, chairperson
• Prof. W.E. Fibbe, Professor of Haematology (stem cell biology), Leiden University Medical Centre
• Dr J.W. Hofstraat, Vice President, Philips Research, Eindhoven, advisor
• M.W. Horning, AgentschapNL, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, The Hague, observer
• Prof. M.J. IJzerman, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Health Technology Assessment, University of Twente, Enschede
• Prof. B. Löwenberg, Professor of Haematology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam
• Prof. P.J. van der Maas, Professor Emeritus of Social Healthcare, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam
• Dr R. van Olden, Medical Director, GlaxoSmithKline, Zeist, advisor
• Dr C. Oosterwijk, Director Vereniging Samenwerkende Ouder- en Patiëntenorganisaties (VSOP), Soest
• Prof. J.H.C. Reiber, Chairman of the Theme Committee NWO-IMDI.NL, The Hague / Professor of Medical Imaging, Leiden University Medical Centre, advisor
• Dr J.W.A. Ridder-Numan, Directorate of Research and Science Policy, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, The Hague, observer
• J.B. van den Wijngaard, Directorate of Medicines and Medical Technology, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, observer
• S.W. Donk, MSc, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, Health Council of the Netherlands (from 1 September 2009 to 1 September 2010), The Hague, national government trainee
• Dr S.H.M. Litjens, Health Council of the Netherlands, The Hague, scientific secretary
• Dr V.W.T. Ruiz van Haperen, Health Council of the Netherlands, The Hague, scientific secretary