With this prize ZonMw aims at the involvement of end-users at an early stage in the development of medical products. Patients (or a representative) and researchers are invited to submit their project together. The involvement of medical doctors, care providers, health funds and companies are encouraged.

This year’s theme is medical technology. There are three categories with their own conditions:

• eHealth applications: longer at home with dementia, prevention of overweight or loneliness of the elderly.
• Innovative instruments: imaging, minimal invasive surgery, rehabilitation and homecare.
• Apparatus: products that increase self-management and independence of the patient.

The top 3 projects will produce a professionally-made, three minute video. The general public will play an important role in determining the winner of 75,000 Euro. The numbers two and three will receive an amount of respectively 50,000 and 25,000 Euro.

The deadline for submitting a project is May 16th 2017 (14.00h). More details about the prize can be found on the subsidy calander of ZonMw.

Read more information on the prize and the winners of 2015 and 2016 on the ZonMw website.

With 249 partners from throughout the Netherlands, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and EPC organised the first national eHealth week. The purpose of this festive week was to inform more people about the opportunities and effectiveness of eHealth applications. Many people do not even know what eHealth really means or what it can do for them or their surroundings. Therefore from 21-27 January more than 100 events were organised to give the general public more insight into eHealth solutions. Minister Schippers and State Secretary Van Rijn travelled from Groningen to Eindhoven to visit a wide range of activities. Some of these were official moments for new collaborations, for example with the third Health Deal or first Health Impact Bound.

Watch the after movie below to gain an impression of the week or read the highlights (Dutch) of the eHealth week in a letter to the Dutch House of Representatives.

Economy
The first round addressed the economic power of our country and the opportunities to enlarge our position in the world. Hans de Boer (VNO-NCW) introduced the topic with a short video on global challenges and Dutch solutions. The participants of the discussion included Meiny Prins (Priva), Inand Lagendijk (BlockChain), Thomas Grosveld (VNO-NCW), and Bas van ‘t Wout (VVD). The discussion centered on the possibility of an investment fund to cross the valley of death and the contribution of the government versus the industry itself. Thomas Grosfeld (VNO-NCW) ended the discussion on a positive note: “We need to be proud of our public-private partnerships, they are unique!”

Innovation
Professor Hans Schenk of the Utrecht University introduced the innovation discussion, followed by participants Bas Bloem (Radboudumc), Eppo Bruins (Christen Unie), Mei Li Vos (PvdA), and Amandus Lundqvist (ambassador of Top Sector High Tech Systems & Materials). The discussion concerned the amount of government funding invested in innovation and the question as to whether the top sector policy needs to be executed on a regional level. Bloem added to the discussion by describing how Top Sector LSH helped him with the international collaboration with Verily. 

Human Capital
The last discussion on human capital was introduced by Loek Hermans (ambassador of Top Sector Horticulture & Starting materials). According to Hermans: “The industry needs to contribute to educating the future employees.” Mustafa Amhaouch (PvdA), Eddie Vlijm (Hellebrekers technieken), and Tinus Hammink (SEECE) lead the discussion on the potential of Dutch human capital.

Watch the Political Cafe via the stream on Facebook here or get an impression of the day with the video below.

uMotion: therapeutic walking aid

The idea of the uMotion arose when Villerius discovered that general walkers did not meet the requirements for people with a balance disorder. During conversations with patients with these specific problems – Villerius visited up to eight people a day – the functioning of a walker had to reversed for these patients. For example, the uMotion does not brake by pressing the levers but instead if the levers are pressed it moves forwards. The uMotion has been optimised thanks to the participation of end users and is therefore a perfect example of development by co-creation. Caregivers (occupational therapists and physiotherapists) soon embraced the uMotion as well. To allow his invention to reach a larger patient group, Villerius started to talk to health insurance companies back in 2009.

A long road to reimbursement

With a lot of positive reactions of patients and medical specialists, the road to reimbursement of uMotion seemed simple. Despite Villerius’ motto ‘the market has to be willing to pay’ reimbursement of your medical product by health insurance companies is vital in the Netherlands in the long run. Unfortunately, the reality soon seemed to be different. Health insurers are large companies, where employees seem to switch between departments. Nobody was able to tell Villerius – despite appreciation of patient and caregiver – if and when the uMotion could claim reimbursement. The ensuing negotiations took more than five years. Ultimately the health insurers agreed that the uMotion as expedient walking aid had to be reimbursed: people have to be able to move as well as possible. Nevertheless, Villerius indicates that although the theory got the green light, in practice he often faced a red light. Villerius gives the tip that such legal agreements should be known by the care recipient and caregiver, to accelerate the process of reimbursement.

Beyond Dutch borders

In view of the global challenges of ageing and self-reliance of elderly, Villerius Medical is currently focusing on the expansion to the international market. By participating in a trade mission to the United States and in the HHINT Starter programme, Villerius gained guidance in introducing uMotion abroad. The uMotion will be soon sold to the private market in Germany. This market is much larger than the Dutch market, which provides Villerius the opportunity to held tight to his former business model and his motto ‘the market has to be willing to pay’. That being the case he will not start the negotiations with health insurance companies.

Of all the MedTech products developed, only a few make it to market. Villerius happily shares his experiences and gives starting entrepreneurs the following message: “Start small, but do start and make sure you get paid by the market you serve as soon as possible”. In his case, the development together with end users and caregivers is crucial.