Irish medtech sector’s function in Covid-19 battle

The Irish Medtech Association highlights the app that doctors can use to take action against Covid-19

Deputy Director of IMA, Nessa Fennelly

The Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec) group, which represents the medical technology sector, sheds light on the critical role of the medical technology community in helping health professionals work and treat patients with Covid-19 safely and in helping Ireland reopen .

The Irish Medtech Association (IMA), Ibec's trade association representing the medical technology sector, has more than 250 members across the island of Ireland. Acting Director of IMA, Nessa Fennelly, said: “In the coming weeks, the Irish Medtech Association will provide insights into how leading medtech companies in Ireland are supporting the frontline battle against Covid-19 here and around the world.

"Ireland's medtech community has risen to the challenge given the unprecedented need to provide diagnostic tests, personal protective equipment, breathing support devices and digital health solutions to combat Covid-19."

Last month, the association focused on digital health when it launched its Medtech Good News campaign. "Digital health solutions are an exciting field of innovation that has played an increasingly important role since the beginning of the pandemic, providing critical insights and supporting remote care," said Fennelly.

“A fantastic example of how these technologies are pioneering the fight against Covid-19 is that of S3 Connected Health with the assistance of advisors from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

"This medical technology helps clinicians to use a web-based application on their smartphone to follow the progression of the disease, to recognize the deterioration of the patient at an early stage and to advise the care team in good time."

Commenting on the ACORRD tool, Jim O’Donoghue, President of S3 Connected Health and Chairman of the Irish Medtech Digital Health Working Group, said: “ACORRD has had a real impact on the fight against Covid-19. Building our existing Affinial platform allowed us to accelerate development and get ACORRD from concept to deployment in just 10 days after receiving a quick response to an exemption from the healthcare product regulator.

“We are proud that ACORRD is already being used in major hospitals in Dublin and in a pilot program in Northern Ireland. We are grateful and honored to play a role in our front line healthcare workers for their relentless efforts to protect us from the virus. "• •