Medical Device Industry Response to Premium Increases

The Hon Greg Hunt MP announced the approval of private health insurance (PHI) companies increasing premiums that will take affect from 1 April 2017.

The PHI industry on average has increased premiums by 50.83% since 2009 but continues to blame the medical device industry for premium pressures.

Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) consumer price index (CPI) figures show since December 2009 medical device inflation has increased by a mere 2.3%.

HR Roundtable Only 1 Month Away

"How do we educate our people to better face disruption and challenge?"

This Roundtable is a joint event with ACU to follow the Deloitte review of the Medical Technology Industry. The roundtable will explore ways to build relationships with universities and develop industry specific learning and development opportunities. This event will also give an opportunity to hear from MTAA’s new CEO, Ian Burgess and to network with industry colleagues in the HR and Training area. 

Date: 15 March 2017
Starts: 8:30-10:30am (followed by Morning Tea)
Location: Australian Catholic University, Level 16, Room 16A,

Tenison Woods House, 8-20 Napier Street, North Sydney, NSW, Australia

Facilitated by: Peter Anthony, Senior Consultant Executive Education, ACU

Free for members who login to the portal!

NEW Melbourne & Brisbane OTP Courses added

Due to popular demand, we have added 3 new Introduction to Operating Theatre Protocols course dates in Melbourne & Brisbane to our event calendar.

For any questions on booking a training course near you, please contact Lee Grow, MTAA Professional Development Manager at lgrow@mtaa.org.au

Prostheses List Senate Inquiry

As you may be aware MTAA has lodged its submission to the Senate inquiry into Prostheses List framework on the 30th January. 

The Committee has confirmed that a public hearing in Canberra will take place on Thursday 16th March and it is anticipated to report back on or about the 30th March.

The MTAA Secretariat is preparing for the hearing with a number of activities being undertaken with members.

Transvaginal Mesh & Therapeutic Goods Amendment Inquiries

Senator Hinch has now spoken twice in the Senate about this issue and has called for a Senate Inquiry. Senator Hinch has called it “one of the greatest medical scandals and abuses of mothers in Australia's history.” He has compared the release of mesh products from 2005 to the sale of Thalidomide in the 1960s. Senator Hinch spoke about the issue in November and again this month after meeting with women who suffered injuries after they were implanted with transvaginal mesh products.  A Senate Inquiry inquiry has been called and voted on and will report back on 30 November 2017.

This issue along with Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2016 Measures No.1) Bill 2016 has the potential to become tied up and presents a risk to our industry in terms of progressing the first phase of recommendations from the Medicines and Medical Device Review. MTAA is looking closely at both issues in 2017 as important pieces of advocacy work.

Radiation Oncology Health Program Grants

Government has announced cuts of $18.7 million over 4 years to the Radiation Oncology Health Program Grants (ROHPG). Through the ROHPG, Government funds the cost of equipment used to deliver radiotherapy. 

Initial estimates from affected stakeholders indicate that the cuts are likely to be at least 4 times larger than predicted by Government.  

MTAA is working with all affected stakeholders, including device companies, to confirm the savings and understand the impact on radiation oncology services in Australia.