Working group: POCT
The POCT working group has been active in the VDGH since June 2023. Initially founded as an ad hoc working group, it is now being continued as a regular working group and is committed to promoting immediate diagnostics close to the patient. The added value of point-of-care diagnostics was particularly evident during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, despite its advantages such as rapid diagnosis, immediate initiation of treatment and targeted antibiotic therapy, the current self-governing structures hinder its use.
The companies represented in the ad hoc working group have a diverse structure. This diversity is a characteristic feature of the industry and is used in the association to pool the different interests. The aim is to develop joint strategies for the effective introduction and use of innovative and high-quality point-of-care (POC) technologies.
The topics of the ad hoc working group are
- Health policy monitoring relating to point-of-care diagnostics: in particular, joint statements and positions of the industry vis-à-vis politicians and self-administration are developed.
- Together with the member companies, an inventory was carried out to show the diversity of products in terms of their parameters and areas of application. This serves as a basis for future (political) activities.
- While the use of POCT in collectively agreed care is difficult, selectively agreed structures show potential. We are therefore working together with the companies on a constantly updated collection of materials, which shows individual regulations and specific regulations for the associations of statutory health insurance physicians.
- The use of POCT is also being shaped by the increasing digitalization of the healthcare system. The interactions and the resulting potential are discussed in the ad hoc working group.
