Stockpiled N95 respirator/surgical mask release beyond manufacturer-designated shelf-life: a French experience.

Background: To reduce the shortage of N95 respirators and surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, stockpiled equipment beyond its expiry date could be released.

Aim: Centralized testing of batches of expired surgical masks and N95 for safe distribution to hospital departments saving users time.

Methods: Tests of compliance with health authority directives were developed and carried out on 175 batches of N95 masks and 31 batches of surgical masks from 12 March 2020 to 16 April 2020.

Hospital-based health technology assessment in France: A focus on medical devices.

Hospital-based health technology assessment (HTA) guides decisions as to whether new healthcare products should be made available within hospital structures. Its extension to medical devices (MDs) makes it possible to analyse several relevant aspects of these healthcare products in addition to their clinical value, and such evaluations are of interest to national health authorities, other healthcare establishments and industry. The aim of this work was to formulate several recommendations for a blueprint for hospital-based HTA for MDs in France.