MTAA Xmas Shutdown

The Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) gives notice that there will be a shutdown period between:

Close 5pm AEDT Friday 22nd December 2017
Re-open 9am AEDT Tuesday 2nd January 2018
 

MTAA wishes its members, associates, stakeholders, partners and friends a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.

MTAA Committee Nominations

The Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) thanks all Members for their company representative nominations for MTAA Committees in 2018. 

Currently, nominations are being received and prepared via the Secretariat for review by the Board next week.  Successful applicants will be notified shortly afterwards.

Your participation helps to ensure there will be a strong & diverse representation of people within the Australian MedTech industry into the future!

Introduction to Operating Theatre Protocols 2018 courses available

The following 2018 Operating Theatre Protocols course dates are available for bookings:

• 1.5 Introduction to Operating Theatre Protocols 23rd February 2018 Sydney
• 1.5 Introduction to Operating Theatre Protocols 27th February 2018 Brisbane
• 1.5 Introduction to Operating Theatre Protocols 23rd March 2018 Sydney
• 1.5 Introduction to Operating Theatre Protocols 8th May 2018 Brisbane
• 1.5 Introduction to Operating Theatre Protocols 10th August 2018 Sydney
• 1.5 Introduction to Operating Theatre Protocols 28th August, 2018 Brisbane
• 1.5 Introduction to Operating Theatre Protocols 19th October, 2018 Sydney
• 1.5 Introduction to Operating Theatre Protocols 30th October, 2018 Brisbane
• 1.5 Introduction to Operating Theatre Protocols 30th November, 2018 Sydney

Get ahead of the queue and book early!  More course dates in 2018 will be announced as venue details are to be confirmed.

Please email pd@mtaa.org.au for bookings and enquiries or contact MTAA Professional Development Manager Lee Grow at lgrow@mtaa.org.au for more information.

MTAA Strategic Plan 2017-2020

The Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) has launched its new Strategic Plan 2017 - 2020. 

The Strategic Plan draws on extensive quantitative and qualitative research conducted with MTAA members earlier in the year. 

The Plan focuses on collaboration as a pathway to grow the MTAA, with a broad-based alliance that includes researchers, manufacturers, distributors, clinicians, providers, funders and consumers.

How Medical Devices play a central role in Health care

Ian Burgess CEO of the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) writes 'How Medical Devices play a central role in Health care' as featured in the November 2017 edition of Health Voices Journal of the Consumers Health Forum.

"Global advances in medical technology over the past 20 years have resulted in a 56% reduction in hospital stays, 25% decline in disability rates, 16% decline in annual mortality and increased life expectancy of approximately 3.2 years.

At the heart and soul of the medical devices industry are 19,000 dedicated professionals, committed to making a positive difference to patients’ lives through medical technology.

Last year in Australia more than 2.5 million surgeries took place, and for each and every one of these surgeries, medical technology played a part. Technology allows patients to hear, to walk, to see, to live or to have a quality of life that they otherwise would not have."

Call for MedTech case studies & success stories

MTPConnect sits at the nexus of the sector and will complement and work collaboratively with the existing industry associations (such as AusBiotech, MTAA, and MA), research bodies, investors and funders, and government agencies and departments in Australia. MTPConnect has an important role to play in bringing many sector stakeholders together to create a more unified approach to the development and promotion of Australia as an attractive clinical trial destination and research and development (R&D) hub.

We are looking to showcase great success stories in the MTP sector, as well as in meetings, at events and for use at international trade delegations. You can see sector case studies via this link - www.mtpconnect.org.au/casestudies. The aim of the case studies is to showcase great, innovative organisations/projects/products in the sector to inspire others and showcase Australia’s great capabilities to the world. Should you want to submit a case study/success story, please contact Polo Guilbert-Wright (polo@mtaa.org.au).

If you have not already done so, I encourage you to please sign up to our sector directory, facilitating connections and collaboration nationally and internationally - www.mtpconnect.org.au/directoryregistration. This allows others to find you and to engage.

Please also sign up individually as an affiliate to stay up to date with our activities and have opportunity to contribute to our community consultations (it's free)  - www.mtpconnect.org.au/network

State of the Innovation Nation Report

There are more than 10,000 high-growth firms in Australia at any given time and these firms make a disproportionate contribution to the country’s jobs and growth, according to an Australian Government report.

Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Craig Laundy, said the latest annual Australian Innovation System Report found innovation is a key driver of high-growth firms. Since 2010, the Australian Innovation System Report series has been tracking the performance of core components of the innovation system.

The 2017 report uses newly obtained data from the Business Longitudinal Analysis Data Environment (BLADE) to analyse the phenomenon of high-growth firms in Australia.

Department of Health released PL critical dates for 2018

The Department of Health has released the critical dates for the February 2018 Prostheses List:

• PHI 53/17 Private Health Insurance (Prostheses) Amendment Rules 2017 No.6
• PHI 52/17 Critical Dates for February 2018 Prostheses List

The List, which will incorporate the first tranche benefit reductions arising from the Strategic Agreement with Government, will be published on 28 February and become effective on 14 March 2018.  Companies will be provided with a draft Prostheses List for review in the second week of January 2018.

New vision for better and fairer healthcare for Victorians

The Andrews Labor Government has unveiled a new 20-year vision for Victoria’s health system to build modern and world-class new facilities that will meet growing demand into the future, where it’s needed most.

Minister for Health Jill Hennessy released the Statewide Design, Service and Infrastructure Plan for Victoria’s Health System 2017-2037. The plan - the first of its kind - delivers on the final recommendation of the Travis Review, which was the most comprehensive audit ever undertaken into the capacity of Victoria’s hospitals.

It delivers a blueprint to guide investment in our health system over the next 20 years, so we know where and when to invest in infrastructure, services and resources in Melbourne and across regional Victoria.

Gift giving under the Medical Technology Code of Practice

Approaching the festive and holiday season, MTAA would like to remind companies of requirements under Section 9.7.

Besides the monetary value, items provided to Healthcare Professionals should be for the benefit of patients or serve an educational purpose. 

We would encourage everyone to read the FAQs about gifts on our website.

If you have any questions about the Code, please feel to contact code@mtaa.org.au.

BioMedTech Horizons Program

Expressions of Interest are open for the Australian Government’s $5 million BioMedTech Horizons program, an initiative to support innovative collaborative health technologies that address key health challenges.

Important Dates:

• Expressions of interest open: 1 November 2017
• Closing date for EOI: 10 December 2017
• Closing date for stage 2 applications: 15 January 2018
• Announcement of successful applications: expected late February 2018
   

The sector’s response to the BioMedTech Horizons program has been fantastic, and though there are still two weeks left for EOI submissions, the review process has already begun so get your expressions of interest in as soon as possible.

The Bridge Program

Queensland University of Technology, in collaboration with MTPConnect and 15 pharmaceutical companies, universities and industry associations, will be delivering an exciting, new and innovative education program that will provide the necessary training to enable the successful commercialisation of Australian pharmaceutical research.

The 2018 offering of the program will select participants from across Australia to take part in face-to-face and online training in the scientific, legal, financial, clinical, regulatory and reimbursement disciplines that contribute to research translation and the commercialisation of medicines.

Final Call: Funding for Health Sector Women Availabale

Women currently working in the health sector have a final opportunity to register their interest in a scholarship worth up to $8,000 to support participation in an accredited leadership development program.  

Funding must be apportioned by the end of 2017 and it is unsure when these grants will be available again. Find out more and register your interest by completing the Expression of Interest form here prior to December 15, 2017.

Call for abstracts - Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association

The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association is calling for Abstracts for the 42nd World Hospital Congress to be held in Brisbane next October. Australian and international health sector leaders wishing to present their work, orally or as a poster, at the Congress are invited to submit abstracts of no more than 500 words by 15 January 2018, using the online submission form.