Episode #129 | Additive Manufacturing Needs Policy To Reach Patients with Dr. Naomi Nathan

Healthcare loves innovation right up until the bill shows up. We sit down with Dr. Nayumi Nathan (Naomi), a medical doctor turned public health and health economics leader, to unpack why medical 3D printing and additive manufacturing are often ready before the healthcare system is. If you’ve ever wondered why point-of-care 3D printing can thrive in one hospital and stall in another, the answer is usually not the printer. It is reimbursement, evidence, and policy. We dig into how Mobility Goes Additive (MGA) builds a Europe-wide ecosystem that connects hospitals, MedTech companies, researchers, regulators, and industry partners to move from scattered pilots to real adoption. Naomi explains why the EU is uniquely complex for healthcare market access: health authority is national, so scaling custom medical devices, patient-specific implants, and hospital 3D printing programs means navigating 26+ reimbursement and governance environments. That reality changes how startups and scale-ups should plan timelines, partnerships, and investment needs. The conversation gets concrete on what must happen next: registries, multi-center studies, and credible patient outcome data that can support evidence-based policy and sustainable payment models. We also talk advocacy, political champions, and why additive manufacturing needs “commitment followed by investment,” including scale-up funding, not just startup grants. Along the way, we reality-check bioprinting hype and share what it will take for patients to one day ask for a 3D printed knee like it’s normal. If you care about the future of medical 3D printing in Europe and beyond, listen, subscribe, and share this with someone building in healthcare. After you listen, leave a review and tell us: what is the biggest barrier to adoption where you live? YouTube: coming soon Show notes: coming soon Send us Fan Mail Support the show Subscribe to our premium version and support the show.  Follow us: Twitter  Instagram Linkedin 3DHEALS Website Facebook Facebook Group Youtube channel About Pitch3D