Become a member
The VDGH has successfully represented the common interests of the diagnostics industry for more than four decades. With members covering 90 percent of the German IVD market, the association is a leading force that is continuously growing. Membership offers not only representation in the German Chemical Industry Association, but also access to a network of industry leaders.
The VDGH prepares healthcare policy, economic policy and regulatory information for specific target groups, supported by benchmarking analyses, sales surveys and professional training courses. Our members benefit from tailor-made services that are specifically designed to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of their companies.
The VDGH is also committed to innovation-friendly framework conditions. This includes appropriate remuneration for laboratory services and the expansion of prevention. Our members have a direct voice in shaping the healthcare system thanks to our established right to make proposals within the framework of the standardized assessment scale (EBM) for laboratory innovations. - Find out more on this page or contact us.
#VDGH: Voice of the industry
The VDGH bundles the common interests of its members and advocates for adequate framework conditions vis-à-vis parliament, the federal ministries (BMG, BMWK, BMBF, BMU), federal authorities and the partners of self-administration in the healthcare sector. Following consultation with member companies, we issue statements on legislative proposals at federal level that affect our industry. We focus on dialog.
The VDGH is regarded as a constructive and objective partner by external stakeholders. In the recent past, the VDGH has successfully helped shape pandemic legislation for test manufacturers, obtained extensions to the European IVD Regulation and saved manufacturers of glucose systems from unjustified charges running into millions when disposing of old devices.
The VDGH addresses industry issues that go beyond our sector (e.g. taxes, energy, SMEs) by actively participating in the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) and/or the Federation of German Industries (BDI). VDGH member companies automatically have free membership of the VCI.
At European level, the VDGH brings its concerns to the MedTech Europe industry association. The VDGH Managing Director is an elected member of the board of MedTech Europe.
#TogetherStrong: Strong network
At the heart of the association's work are the VDGH's committees - i.e. the specialist departments, committees and working groups. More than 30 committees in total ensure that the entire range of industry-relevant topics can be discussed in a focused manner. Every member has free access to all working structures. The sharing of knowledge and the joint development of industry positions are central to this. The collegial exchange of experiences, both face-to-face and away from the agenda of a meeting, is equally valued. Our members make intensive use of personal exchanges with each other, even when they are in competition with each other. The VDGH provides a trusting space for this exchange.
If interested, we enable representatives of member companies to participate in external committees, advisory boards and national action groups.
#Research: Market-relevant information
Communicating information means sifting through and evaluating the flood of data and news for its relevance to our industry. This task is carried out by the VDGH office. The continuous provision of information to our members takes place not only in the committees, but in particular via regular information services (VDGH-News, VDGH-Intern, Toolbox-Nachrichten), via the various VDGH websites, in blogs and via social media. The VDGH's event portfolio includes industry meetings (Diagnostica Forum, public general meeting), summer academies, themed seminars and external workshops (focus: regulatory affairs, market access). Externally, we provide information through continuous and targeted public relations work.
The VDGH provides its member companies with a free information service that draws attention to industry-relevant tenders in the D-A-CH market on a daily basis.
#Exchange: Sharing and documenting knowledge
The VDGH compiles valuable materials on current topics exclusively for its members. Current examples include the complex regulations of the IVDR and all subordinate regulations on medical device law, a global collection of approval and registration conditions for IVDs, handouts on the Supply Chain Duty of Care Act and overviews of industry-relevant environmental law.
A guide with the four modules inpatient care, outpatient care, digital medical devices and testing procedures leads through the jungle of the German reimbursement system. The toolbox in the members' area of the VDGH website contains a wealth of additional industry information.
#FutureDiagnostics: Right to propose laboratory innovations
The VDGH has the right to apply for consultation on laboratory innovations for inclusion in SHI reimbursement. We exercise this right exclusively for our members vis-à-vis the evaluation committee of the KBV and GKV-Spitzenverband; individual companies are not entitled to submit applications to the self-administration. On request, we advise our members during the innovation process.
The VDGH is an institution entitled to submit comments to the Joint Federal Committee. The association provides input for the evaluation of laboratory-based examination and treatment methods as well as for the further development of early detection measures and disease management programs.
#BestPractice: Benchmarks and studies
The VDGH regularly offers its members a Commercial Benchmark with the areas of logistics, services and sales. Participating companies receive valuable information on industry-specific business processes (e.g. delivery practices, appliance placement models, vendor utilization). A benchmark is also offered in the area of Compensation & Benefits. Like the sales surveys, the benchmarks are subject to strict data protection regulations.
In addition, the VDGH commissions joint studies on topics that are of overarching interest to the membership. A prominent example is the customer communication study that has been conducted for years. It surveys information behavior for the purchase of devices, reagents and consumables and derives preferred communication channels from this.
#DataAtA Glance: Market research
The opportunity to participate in a quarterly sales survey for the German IVD market as a member company of the VDGH has been established for many years. The survey, which is carried out by an external data trustee, represents more than 85 percent of the market with its participants and is therefore highly representative. The depth of the survey is unique. It supports data-driven retrospective considerations as well as planning of the product portfolio.
The participating company can see its position in relation to the aggregated and anonymized market as a whole. Performance figures from the laboratories round off the market intelligence information. Quarterly surveys and an annual survey are also carried out for the LSR companies in the association. All own data and comparative data from public sources are compiled annually in a handbook that is exclusively available to VDGH member companies.
#FundFinder: Research funding
The LSR-FundFinder is an information service of the VDGH on industry-relevant public research funding in Germany and seven other European countries. The database is continuously updated and contains more than 50,000 industry-relevant research grants.
None of the publicly accessible databases can match the depth of information provided by the LSR-FundFinder. The FundFinder enables targeted support for the sales force with sales-relevant information and can be easily integrated into CRM systems. The database for the D-A-CH region is exclusively available to VDGH members.
#DigitalNow: Digitization is today
The cross-cutting topic of digitalization is omnipresent and is also changing our industry. Further innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, automation and platform solutions can be expected in the coming years. The VDGH is already supporting this transformation today; the personnel resources in the office and new committee structures have been created for this purpose.
The VDGH is particularly committed to digital health applications/digital care applications as new care services and to access to health data for industrial research.
#Awareness: Public relations
As a recognized contact for the media, the association provides factual and competent information on current topics and developments in the industry. We emphasize our responsibility as an innovative industry for research in the life sciences and high-quality healthcare. The VDGH illustrates the importance of laboratory diagnostics using multimedia and in cooperation with the laboratory doctors' associations.
The IPF web portal operated by the VDGH provides information on prevention and early detection with laboratory tests in a targeted and layman-friendly manner. Specialist forums organized by the VDGH at important industry trade fairs provide a scientific insight into the innovative strength of the member companies.
Recruiting qualified specialists is essential for our industry. The VDGH has presented a number of job profiles in short video clips. Employees from member companies explain their path into the IVD/LSR industry. In addition, the association has been organizing campaign days at selected university locations for years, where our member companies provide information about attractive career options and career opportunities in the LSR and IVD industry. A job platform with a job exchange is currently being set up.