Pre-market charges for medical device firms

Medical devices firms will be forced to pay significant pre-market “risk assessment” charges if they want to sell their products under new patient safety laws.

The Irish Medicines Board wants the Government to impose the rule change by 2015 to prevent another DePuy hips or PIPs breast implant crisis — and ensure the public does not have to pay to resolve future problems.

Speaking at an Oireachtas Health Committee meeting, the independent watchdog’s chief executive, Pat O’Mahony, said the controversies — which damaged thousands of patients in Ireland — must not be repeated.