Politicians

Whoever is handed the health portfolio in Germany’s new coalition government will face demands to amend the recently-enacted hospital and DRGs reform law. The medtech industry has been quick to make the case for change.

“The president has chosen a do-it-all-now strategy, recognizing that the midterm congressional elections are a little over a year away,” says CHPA CEO Scott Melville. “We're just 57 days into the second Trump administration, and we are experiencing lots of unexpected things.”

Centralized decisions and cost savings are targeted in the UK government’s plan to combine much of NHS England with the Department of Health and Social Care. The action will likely divert resources away from health ministry efforts to launch the 10-Year Care Plan, but how else will medtechs be impacted?

Industry likely wants Grace Graham to take the FDA’s top policy and legislative role, but she may be passed over for someone more tied to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s interests.

President Trump’s CDC director nominee was pulled after vaccine positions appeared too extreme for some Republicans, but the nominations to lead the FDA and NIH advanced to the Senate floor despite last-minute drama.

The $25,000 buyout, in addition to the early retirement program and layoffs, is intended to reduce the size of the HHS workforce.

The president says 4 March would mark the start of tariffs he initially intended to take effect on 1 February before allowing a delay for Mexico and Canada to implement border security to help curb illegal entry by immigrants and fentanyl smuggling.

Germany’s government-industry healthcare industry roundtables have yielded a final report, even though the program was curtailed by the snap election. The new CDU-led government should pick up the baton, medtech industry associations say.

Supplement industry trade groups and an attorney offer differing views of impact from layoffs imposed by White House’s “Department of Government Efficiency” reportedly numbering as many as 700. They agree layoffs, reported as some 700 across the agency with its food safety programs particularly hit, will affect FDA’s work, but not on whether it will be able to fulfill its responsibilities.

Some FDA employees who were recently laid off by the Trump Administration are being called back to work, multiple sources confirmed to the Pink Sheet.