Proposal for a COVID-19 Thought Partnership ForumCONTEXTThe global COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented need for a dramatic increase in supply ofmedical technology. Despite round-the-clock efforts to ramp up supply, including creative partnerships
and “crowdsource” solutions, supply is likely to remain short of demand for a crucial period. In thissituation, it is essential to have coordination and collaboration of governments and global institutions inorder to help keep supply chains open, ensure the best possible exchange of supply and demand data,
and to support efficient, fair, and data- and science-driven allocation of scarce products.
G20 nations have agreed1 that a global operating mechanism is needed to advise on fair and efficient
allocation and perhaps facilitate procurement and distribution among a group of countries. International
institutions like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank (WB) are assessing how tomove forward on this task. It is essential for our sector to establish a vehicle for sustained, respected,and meaningful industry engagement to add to these discussions.

PROPOSAL--

Establish a thought-partnership forum to provide advice, consultation and a coordination
mechanism between key global manufacturers of critically needed equipment, the WHO andother multilateral organizations.
By working closely the WHO and partners, this global organization will be more likely to progress
towards establishing the coordinating mechanism agreed by G20 nations and succeed inaggregating demand, setting global procurement principles, and advising on global allocation ofscarce technologies.

BENEFITS-1Engaging with the WHO, in such a mechanism, together with other companies, allows medical
technology companies to have a seat at the table, in an advisory and/or intelligence-sharing

See G20 March 26 Leaders’ Statement here.

--capacity, to inform how the WHO, World Bank, UN system, G20 and other internationalorganizations will shape the institutional response to the crisis.
By the same token, such a move helps deflect undue pressure on industry from any one country
for disproportionate allocation of supply, and it leaves key clinical decisions to an internationalorganization charged by its members states, particularly the G20, to fulfil this purpose.
Engaging with the WHO in a collaborative manner serves the shared goal of ensuring that criticaltechnology is made available to areas with the most urgent need, through:a) bringing common understanding and shared information about the different types oftechnology, the conditions for their effective use, and the best match between medical
conditions and appropriate technology;b) coordinating information on global supply and medical need, taking into account the advanceof COVID-19 in different countries and the development of needs; andc) guiding the allocation of critical technologies on the basis of clinical need via the WHO or withassistance from UNOPs, addressing key logistics and regulatory challenges. The WHO can enrich
its coordination mechanism with critical technology and epidemiological information and otherforms of expertise from the private sector.

The WHO could also experience significant benefits, including:-Better understanding of global demand to medical technology companies;
Participating in a forum in which the private and public sectors can exchange important andtransformative ideas, and the private sector can provide knowledge and collaboration.
This kind of interaction may help the very mechanisms under creation by the WHO rapidly selfimprove and adjust to supply and manufacturing realities.

NEXT STEPSThe success of the global mechanism suggested by G20 nations is strategically important for theMedTech sector. As these plans unfold, it is essential to ensure that our industry can contribute toshaping this initiative.
With representation of Advamed and Medtech Europe, GMTA is well positioned to champion theseefforts. We encourage GMTA to convene industry partners to discuss the merits of this proposal andthen bring it forward to the WHO.