MTAA Anniversary

On Saturday 13 March 2010 MTAA passed an important milestone, its 30 year anniversary. For the first time, a separate association for medical device and diagnostics was set up, operating out of the APMA offices in Bridge St in Sydney. APMA, of course, later changed its name to Medicines Australia.

During the past three decades since its inaugural meeting AMDADA, as MTAA was then known, has undergone significant changes but never lost sight of its main objective, to support the medical technology industry in Australia and ultimately to improve the health of Australians.

Historical milestones include:

Australian Medical Devices and Diagnostics Association (AMDADA) - Inaugural meeting 13 March 1980
Medical Engineering Research Association (MERA) - Incorporated 8 November 1983
AMDADA changes name to MIAA October 1990
MERA formally merges into MIAA 8 May 1991
MIAA changes its name to MTAA on 1 March 2008

In the first annual report of the Association for 1980/81, the inaugural chairman Mr J.H. Boorne reports on the challenges of setting up the Association. Despite those early challenges (the Treasurer reports that “on the day of its inauguration, 13th March 1980 AMDADA had no money and no members”), membership grew rapidly to the 72 companies listed in the first annual report. There a quite a few of theses companies that remain members of MTAA today.

It is interesting to see how the operations of the secretariat have changed over time. In 1980 AMDADA used telexes as a means to communicate with members and government. However, some aspects seemed to have stayed the same, with one of the main consultations in 1980 on Heath Technology Assessment “to assist in the formation of government policy on medical long-term spending.”

MTAA in the 80s

MTAA is celebrating its 30 year anniversary this year. In the second installment on the history of the association, we look back at the 80s when it operated as AMDADA, the Australian Medical Device & Diagnostics Association, shared office and staff resources with APMA (now Medicines Australia) and conducted its member communications via cables and telex.

In the first years the association was busy setting up a secretariat infrastructure, recruiting new members; and establishing working relationships with federal and state government departments and other stakeholders like Standards Australia.

Working parties and committees were established to address issues on health technology assessment, the Code of Good Manufacturing Practice, import controls, uniform recall procedures and microbiological controls for surgical dressings and other regulatory and technical issues.

Externally the association represented the industry on advisory panels for intraocular lenses, pacemakers, heart valves, drug infusion systems and clinical investigational use of designated devices and intrauterine contraceptive devices. Representatives also served on the Therapeutic Goods Committee, Therapeutic Advertising Code Council and assisting the Industry Assistance Commission and subsequent committees preparing recommendations on the development of the medical and scientific equipment industries in Australia.

In September 1988 the position of CEO was introduced; and a few months later an independent secretariat had been established. As the 1980s drew to a close, the association’s membership had almost doubled in size.

MTAA in the 90s

In the third installment on the history of the association, we look back at the 90s. At the start of the decade, AMDADA merged with the Medical Engineering Research Association (MERA) and the new entity was now known as the Medical Industry Association of Australia (MIAA). Since its inception in 1980, membership had grown from 60 to 100 companies and was supported by a secretariat lead by a CEO.

In the early 90s the Australian economy was weak and the healthcare system faced systemic changes like the introduction of the DRG-based funding model for hospitals, closure of hospital beds and decline in private health insurance cover.

In 1991 the annual industry surveys were first introduced. The 1992 survey reported device and diagnostic industry sales of over $1b, 89% of achieved domestically, 62% of devices were supplied to the public hospital system and only 23% to the private hospital system. Three quarters of products were imports. Local production was at $338m, three quarters of that for the domestic market. The industry employed 4,682 people (compared to 2010 number of 17,500).

Throughout the 90s the industry faced many opportunities and challenges especially in the reuse of single use devices, global harmonization and mutual recognition agreement on conformity assessment areas and in the liaison with federal and state governments.

At the close of the decade and in preparation for the new millennium, the industry was facing the introduction of the GST legislation, changing regulatory and reimbursement regimes and preparedness for the Y2K bug!

MTAA in the 2000s

MTAA is celebrating its 30 year anniversary this year. In the fourth installment on the history of the association, we look back at the 2000s.

At the change of the millennium discussions about the plans for the TGA cost recovery scheme were in full swing. Other issues that were discussed were the introduction of e-commerce, the organization for the Olympic Games in Sydney, the continued debate about the introduction of the GST and the establishment of the training program for the industry.

In 2004 an office in Canberra was opened. Discussions focused on the creation of the Trans Tasman Joint Agency and the introduction of the IVD legislation. The government’s creation of the Medical Devices Industry Action Agenda (MDIAA) provided a platform for further discussion about strategy and future for our industry sector. The introduction of a trans-tasman industry code pointed to the increased awareness of ethical business practices.

The adoption of a new strategic plan saw the introduction of the current vision for the association: Medical technology for a healthier Australia. Following was a change to the name of the association: Medical Technology Association of Australia.