The medical device industry is driven by innovation and constant development. This evolution means that medical equipment is often replaced long before the end of its useful life. Refurbished medical equipment is commonly used in hospitals and health centres in Europe and worldwide. COCIR has taken the lead on developing good practice for the industry and first published this in a Good Refurbishment Practice (GRP) Green Paper in November 2007. Today, COCIR launches an Industry Standard on Good Refurbishment Practice for Medical Electrical Equipment and an updated version of the Green Paper.
Refurbishing medical equipment is a sophisticated process which if not done correctly can pose as much risk as benefit to patients. The GRP Industry Standard sets out requirements for quality, safety and effectiveness in the refurbishment of medical equipment. The GRP Green Paper shows how COCIR member companies, themselves manufacturers, apply these requirements in refurbishing their own equipment.
“Healthcare providers, patients and governments need a consistent and harmonised set of requirements for the safe refurbishment of used medical equipment. This framework needs to be as rigorous and as trustworthy as the regulations which assure the safety of new equipment to ensure the confidence of users,” said Heinrich von Wulfen, COCIR President. “There is a cascade of sustained value, both social and economic, which can be released worldwide with the use of refurbished medical equipment” he added.
Nicole Denjoy, COCIR Secretary General added that “We believe that the COCIR approach to refurbishment will support policymakers and other stakeholders in setting a sustainable healthcare framework and assist healthcare providers in their purchasing decisions, as well as giving confidence to users and patients about the safety and effectiveness of refurbished medical equipment”.
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