DUBLIN, Ireland, 29 September 2017 — Abbott is delighted to announce that its revolutionary glucose-sensing technology, the FreeStyle Libre system, has won the Most Innovative Product Multi-National Award at the Irish Medical and Surgical Trade Association (IMSTA) Medtech Awards 2017.
The IMSTA Medtech Awards 2017, now in their sixth year, are recognised as the premier awards for developers, providers and suppliers of effective healthcare solutions for the health system in Ireland.
Enterprise Ireland were very taken by the impact of the device in terms of making it so much easier for the person to monitor their glucose levels and the additional benefits that come with the retention of the data for 90 days enabling patterns to be observed, an example of new technologies being used to provide a better solution to the benefit of the patient and the wider healthcare system.
Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre system is an innovative glucose monitoring system for people with diabetes - a first of its kind - giving them freedom to live healthier. The groundbreaking monitoring system allows real-time glucose readings to be taken painlessly and in less than one second, without the need for routine finger pricking*. This revolutionary technology was launched in Ireland in October 2016.
The system consists of a small, round sensor — approximately the size of a €2 coin — worn on the back of the upper arm for up to 14 days. A handheld reader is scanned over the sensor when needed — even when the subject is sleeping — and the device is capable of providing a historical snapshot of glucose levels up to 90 days^.
Barbara Scott, Country Manager of Abbott's diabetes care business in Ireland said: “We are overjoyed that the work of Abbott’s scientists and engineers in developing FreeStyle Libre has been recognised with this prestigious award. Our revolutionary technology is helping people with diabetes better manage their condition, and ultimately helping them live healthier.
Abbott’s application for reimbursement for the FreeStyle Libre system was acknowledged by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service of the Health Service Executive on 6th February 2017. It will be considered in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The application will be assessed for listing under reimbursable items for people (aged 4 and above) with diabetes who intensively use insulin; namely those requiring multiple daily injections of insulin (MDIs).
For more information about the product, please visit www.freestylelibre.ie.
ABOUT ABBOTT
At Abbott, we're committed to helping people live their best possible life through the power of health. For more than 125 years, we've brought new products and technologies to the world -- in nutrition, diagnostics, medical devices and branded generic pharmaceuticals -- that create more possibilities for more people at all stages of life. Today, 94,000 of us are working to help people live not just longer, but better, in the more than 150 countries we serve.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @FreeStyleDiabet, @AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal.
ABOUT THE IMSTA MEDTECH AWARDS 2017:
The IMSTA Awards, now in their sixth year, have grown significantly in the past few years with entries coming from hospitals, researchers, medtech entrepreneurs and industry. Previous IMSTA Award winners come from acute hospital research teams, primary health care providers, SME start ups, community health care products, digital health entrepreneurs, global med tech companies, local distributors and many other extraordinary people and healthcare professionals.
* A finger prick test using a blood glucose meter is required during times of rapidly changing glucose levels when interstitial fluid glucose levels may not accurately reflect blood glucose levels, or if hypoglycemia or impending hypoglycemia is reported or the symptoms do not match the system readings.
^ For a complete glycemic picture, scan once every 8 hours.
ABBOTT MEDIA:
Laurie Mannix, MKC Communications
01 7038620 / laurie@mkc.ie
FreeStyle, Libre and other related brand marks are trademarks of Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. in various jurisditions.
ADCMDP170224 Date of preparation : October 2017
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