AdvaMed “Shanghaied”

America’s medical device trade association, the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) has opened an office in Shanghai, China. The trade group announced on June 2, 2014, that Chinese authorities approved their application to open the office in the city where many AdvaMed members have their China headquarters.

Opening the office will “provide AdvaMed members to engage in important policy issues in one of the world’s fastest growing markets for medical technology, ” said AdvaMed President and CEO Steve Ubl. “Our efforts in China will ensure patient access to advanced medical technologies and will benefit both local Chinese companies and importers.”

The public policy issues Ubl referred to include the need to streamline regulations, ensure appropriate reimbursement for medical technologies and importers.

The association has been active in China for some time. Lynn Jiao, executive director of the trade group’s China program, has been working on behalf of the group for the past 17 months. She has over 20 years of experience in China including being the lead official responsible for medical devices in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Foreign Commercial Service. AdvaMed also established a China Council in 2013. The council is made up of member companies’ senior representatives in China.

The trade group has also shared a staff position with the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing since 2009.

Noting that AdvaMed required government approval to open a representative office speaks volumes about the regulatory and policy challenges in a country noted for central planning and grand policy initiatives.

“Our new China office will enhance our ability to make our case with local officials and other stakeholders, ” said Ralph Ives, AdvaMed’s executive vice president, global strategy and analysis.