At RSNA: MITA Awarded Commerce Department Funding
The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) was recognized for its participation in the United States Commerce Department's International Trade Administration (ITA) Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) at RSNA's Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting. Working closely with the ITA and other stakeholders, MITA will utilize MDCP funding to improve government approval processes, decrease the time required to bring devices to market, and lower costs associated with international sales in nations such as China and India.
The three-year award from the United States Department of Commerce, named the Global Diagnostic and Therapeutic Imaging Access Improvement Initiative, will promote the harmonization of international standards, reduce unnecessary regulation, and expand market access to enhance the global competitiveness of MITA member companies, including small- and medium-sized enterprises. As market access improves, patients will benefit from enhanced diagnostics and care provided by life-saving medical imaging and radiotherapy devices. MITA was one of only five non-profit industry organizations to receive the MDCP award.
"Our partnership with ITA will help eliminate impediments to trade, allowing industry to more efficiently export innovative medical imaging and radiotherapy products to international markets such as China and India," said David Fisher, executive director of MITA. "MITA will leverage our deep expertise in industry standards-setting, our international program, and our experience within medical imaging and radiotherapy device regulatory arenas to drive international market access and growth."
"The MDCP award will help medical imaging and radiotherapy manufacturers create jobs in the United States by increasing access to international markets and thereby increasing exports of innovative life-saving medical imaging products," said U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Manufacturing Peter Perez. "In total, the partnerships we are creating with the five new MDCP awards will increase the number of businesses in our country that receive assistance in exporting their goods and services to international markets and thereby create or sustain thousands of jobs in this country."
ITA will provide funds and expertise as part of a three-part program, including support from MITA and industry stakeholders. Through the program, MITA will better identify market problems, work more closely with Chinese and Indian regulators to enhance device safety and quality testing abilities, and assist them in integrating internationally accepted standards into their regulatory regimes. MITA's work within MDCP will also help educate international decision makers regarding the practical implications of policy decisions and encourage them to craft a regulatory environment that brings innovative and life-saving technology to patients while reducing errors and the long-term cost of care.
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