Addressing Europe’s Acute Chronic Wound Crisis: A Call to Action
Summary: This joint industry white paper from the MedTech Europe Wound Care Sector Working Group (endorsed by multiple national associations and welcomed by Mölnlycke) addresses the growing burden of chronic wounds across Europe. It estimates 7.4–14.9 million people affected, with chronic wounds consuming up to 4% of healthcare budgets due to delayed diagnosis, prolonged treatment, preventable complications, and high recurrence rates. The report stresses under-recognition in policy and calls for coordinated action among policymakers, clinicians, payers, patient organizations, and industry. Key recommendations include making wound care a strategic health priority, strengthening education and workforce capacity, aligning reimbursement with value/outcomes, and accelerating innovation with real-world evidence. Aims to transform wound care into a more equitable, sustainable, and patient-centered system.
Key Highlights:
- Chronic wounds affect millions and strain EU healthcare budgets significantly
- Under-recognition leads to delayed care and poor outcomes
- Four priority actions: policy elevation, education, reimbursement reform, innovation scaling
- Collaborative call involving MedTech Europe and national associations
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Keywords: chronic wound crisis, MedTech Europe, wound care policy, Europe wound care