At international level, COCIR is a founding member of DITTA, the global voice for diagnostic imaging, radiation therapy, healthcare IT, electromedical and radiopharmaceutical manufacturers, which was incorporated in the US in 2012. Besides COCIR, MITA (United States) and JIRA (Japan) are also founding members. Since its incorporation, DITTA now includes the following organisations : Technation (Canada), Medtech Canada, Thaimed (Thailand), CAMDI (China), Abimed (Brazil), IMEDA (Russia), KMDIA and KMDICA (Korea).
At European level, COCIR is actively involved in a forum which includes several european medical technology trade associations. This forum includes besides COCIR, Medtech Europe, EUROM VI, EHIMA, FIDE and Euromcontact.
COCIR is a Partner of AI4People , which is a multi-stakeholder forum, bringing together all actors interested in shaping the impact of new applications of AI, including the European Commission, the European Parliament, civil society organisations, industry and the media.
COCIR is a member of the European AI Alliance, the European Commission’s broad multi-stakeholder platform for engaging in open discussions on all aspects of AI development and its impact on the economy and society.
COCIR is a founding member of INATBA, the International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications. INATBA aims to promote the use of blockchain and distributed ledger technology by developing a predictable, transparent and trust-based global framework.
The EU Health Coalition was created after the first ever EU Health Summit, which took place in November 2018, to promote a shared vision of health in Europe, based on jointly developed recommendations.
The purpose is to ensure health remains high on Europe’s political agenda and bring the necessary changes to address the unprecedented challenges and opportunities driven by an ageing population and increased prevalence of chronic diseases that healthcare systems and citizens across Europe are facing.
The EU Health Coalition is composed of patient organisations, EU research-oriented medical societies, industry organisations, regional and local health authorities and other relevant stakeholders that share a common vision for health.
The EU Health Coalition activities are steered through 4 policy groups which are the following:
1. Research and innovation
2. Health data and digital health
3. Healthcare systems
4. Policies for health
COCIR is chairing the health data and digital health policy group.
More info can be found here.
The Secure Identity Alliance (SIA) is dedicated to supporting the provision of legal, trusted identity for all, and to drive the development of inclusive digital services necessary for sustainable, worldwide economic growth and prosperity. In May 2018, COCIR and SIA issued the joint publication: Identity in Healthcare - A Key Enabler to Integrated Care.
COCIR has permanent contact with user organisations, such as the European Hospital and Healthcare Federation (HOPE), the European Society of Radiologists (ESR), the European SocieTy for Radiotherapy & Oncology (ESTRO), the European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics (EFOMP), the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME), the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), European Union of Private Hospitals (UEPH).
Considering healthcare technology is highly regulated, COCIR has been an active member of Global Harmonization Task Force (GHTF) during several years and until December 2012. As of 1rst January 2013, GHTF has been replaced with International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF).
Our industry is very active via DITTA in IMDRF activities, especially in work teams on Regulation Product Submisssion (RPS) and Unique Device Identification (UDI).
COCIR members are actively engaged in standardisation at national, european and international level. At international level, and since 2008, COCIR has obtained a type A Liaison with IEC TC 62 and is a member of the CENELEC BT since 2005 at European level.
COCIR became member of BIAC in 2010. COCIR members actively contribute to the work delivered at Business at OECD level (the Business and Industry Advisory Committee) in front of the OECD Health Committee.
COCIR has been active with World Health Organization (WHO) via DITTA. The DITTA Global Health (GH) Working Group (WG) is focusing on efforts towards WHO and their various groups (WHO Global Committee on NCDs) as well as ensuring participation to annual World Health Assembly since DITTA granted in 2015 NGO status in official relations with WHO. This WG also coordinates the activities linked to the partnership signed with World Bank in 2016 and ensures connections with IAEA. Learn more here.
COCIR is a founding member of the Integrated Care Alliance, a dedicated group of multi-stakeholders’ experts working together to provide direction, advice, and guidance for integrated care schemes. The goal is to strengthen and expand integrated, sustainable health and care services across the EU Member States. Building on ICA first publication “United towards Integrated Care” in 2016, the ICA partners joined forces again to elaborate a Multi-Stakeholder Roadmap to support integrated care.
COCIR has partnered with the International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC) to help advance the science, knowledge and adoption of integrated care in policy and practice in the context of Europe with a specific focus on the role and use of supporting medical imaging and health ICT technologies.
COCIR has brought the concept of Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) in Europe since 2000 and continues to sponsor IHE Europe established as a separate non-profit organisation since April 2008. COCIR cooperate also with Personal Connected Care Alliance.
Since 2007, COCIR has closely cooperated with the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) on eHealth matters.
Since 2010, COCIR is a member of the European Network for Health Technology Assessment EUnetHTA Stakeholder Forum and cooperate with other european industry associations which includes the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), the European Medical Technology Industry Association (MedTech Europe), the European Association for bio-industries (EuropaBio) and Medicines for Europe).