DITTA Calls For Immediate Inclusion Of ‘Technologies’ In United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – DITTA, the Global Diagnostic Imaging, Healthcare IT and Radiation Therapy Trade Association, urgently calls for the inclusion of the word ‘technologies’ in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, Target 3B, which highlights the importance of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well‐being.  Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are set to be ratified at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in September 2015. They are an expansion on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agreed by governments in 2000.  DITTA is particularly concerned with the changes in Target 3B, SDG 3, where the word ‘technologies’, referring to medical technologies, has been deleted. DITTA wants ‘technologies’ after ‘medicines’ in the suggested final version of the Target 3B, SDG 3, as follows: “3.b support research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non‐communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines, technologies and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the TRIPS agreement regarding flexibilities to protect public health and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all.”  Nicole Denjoy, DITTA Vice Chair, said, “Medical technology saves lives and this term should not be removed from SDG 3. Without medical technology, there would be no radiotherapy treatment for cancer, no infant warmers for babies suffering from hypothermia, no LED phototherapy for neonatal jaundice and the detec3on and cure of tuberculosis and HIV would not be possible. These are just some examples of medical technology’s contributions, taken from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Compendium of innovative health technologies for low‐resource settings.”  Nicole Denjoy added, “Medical technology is vital in diagnosing, monitoring and treating diseases. Without medical technologies, health systems would simply collapse. Therefore, it is an imperative for the term ‘technologies’ to be included in the SDG 3.” About DITTADITTA is the global voice for diagnostic imaging, radiation therapy, healthcare IT, electromedical and radiopharmaceutical manufacturers to better communicate, coordinate and collaborate on matters of common interest between participating associations and member companies. DITTA membership is currently comprised of COCIR (Europe), JIRA (Japan), ITAC (Canada), MEDEC (Canada), MITA (United States), THAIMED (Thailand), IMEDA (Russia), CAMDI (China), ABIMED (Brazil) and KMDICA (Korea). DITTA enables participating associations and their member companies to work more effectively with international policymakers, organizations, professional associations and stakeholders. DITTA has the status of NGO in official relations with World Health Organisation.