Medical device expert panels

In the European Union (EU), medical device expert panels provide input on the clinical and performance assessment of certain high-risk medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices for their conformity assessments. This helps ensure the safety and performance of medical devices on the EU market, and facilitates their timely availability for patients.

The expert panels were established by the following Regulations:

• Medical Devices (Regulation (EU) 2017/745) 
• In Vitro Diagnostic Devices (Regulation (EU) 2017/746).

Responsibilities

The expert panels:

• Provide opinions on notified bodies’ clinical evaluation of certain high-risk medical devices 
• Provide views on the performance evaluation of certain high-risk in vitro diagnostic medical devices
• Advise the Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG) and European Commission on the safety and performance of medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices
• Advise manufacturers of high-risk medical devices on their clinical development strategy or proposals for clinical investigations
• Advise Member States, manufacturers and notified bodies on various scientific and technical matters
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of guidance documents, common specifications and international standards
• Provide opinions in response to consultations from manufacturers, Member States and notified bodies

For more information, see Consultation procedures for high-risk medical devices.

Composition

The European Commission appoints expert panel members in consultation with the Medical Device Coordination Group (MDCG), based on their scientific, clinical and technical expertise.

It maintains a list of eligible experts who are not appointed to a panel. If needed, these experts can be asked to support the work of an expert panel.

The experts' CVs and declarations of interest (DoIs) are available on the European Commission's website.

More information on how to join an expert panel is available below.

Expert panels

There are twelve expert panels.

A screening panel determines whether an expert panel opinion is needed.

There are eleven thematic panels:

• Orthopaedics, traumatology, rehabilitation, rheumatology
• Circulatory system
• Neurology
• Respiratory system, anaesthesiology, intensive care
• Endocrinology and diabetes
• General and plastic surgery and dentistry
• Obstetrics and gynaecology, including reproductive medicine
• Gastroenterology and hepatology
• Nephrology and urology
• Ophthalmology
• In vitro diagnostic medical devices

A coordination committee composed of the expert panels' chairs and vice-chairs enables information-sharing and maintains common standards and procedures.

Opinions, views and advice

The opinions, views and advice provided by the expert panels are publicly available on this website:

• Class III implantable devices and Class IIb medical devices intended to administer or remove medicinal products: expert panel opinions
• Class D in vitro diagnostic devices: expert panel views
• Medical devices: expert panel advice at the request of the Medical Device Coordination Group and the European Commission

EMA's role

EMA provides administrative, technical and scientific support to the expert panels, based on the Regulation on EMA's Reinforced Role (Regulation (EU) 2022/123). 

More information:

• Crisis preparedness and management

How to join an expert panel

Experts with clinical or scientific expertise in the relevant medical fields can apply to join an expert panel. 

Interested candidates must respond to the call for expressions of interest:

• Call for expression of interest for medical device and in-vitro diagnostics medical devices experts (EXPAMED) and patient, consumer and healthcare professional experts (P&HCP)

Successful experts are appointed to join an expert panel for a renewable three-year term or includes them in the central list of available experts. The current list is valid until 26 May 2027. 

Applications may be made after the deadline specified in the call for expressions of interest to ensure the smooth functioning of the expert panels.

For queries, please contact [e-mail].