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THE BATTLE OF PRIVATE PATIENTS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS ROLLS ON

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Last year the medical device industry signed an agreement with the Commonwealth Government to deliver $1.1 billion in benefit reductions for private health insurers in exchange for various reforms intended to provide patients better access to life-changing and life-saving technology.

The Australian’s story has highlighted evidence that private patients in public hospitals is costing the private health system $1 billion. This is further evidence of real “fat in the system” including the more than $1.6 billion a year in uncovered gap payments.

The revelations support an earlier report from Catholic Health Australia which showed public hospitals were encouraging patients to ‘go private’, allowing the hospital to bill the patient’s health insurance and Medicare, at a cost of $1.1 billion per year.

Australian Private Hospitals Association CEO, Michael Roff, raised concerns about the increasing number of private patients in public hospitals as a result of active recruitment of the privately insured patients by the public system.

“Around Australia people are being left languishing on waiting lists while those with private health insurance are cajoled into using their insurance in the public system and jumping the public queue. It’s time for states to be held to account and for Australians to get the health system they deserve,” Mr Roff said.

“If this practice did not occur it is estimated health insurance premiums would be at least six percent lower.”

Queensland Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services, Steven Miles said profit driven rent-seeking was nowhere more obvious than in the private hospital industry.

“Its [the private hospitals industry] latest attempt to secure monopoly billing rights for private patients demonstrates it is unwilling to compete with public hospitals and has no concern for the ongoing viability of private health insurance Privately insured patients pay a lot for their insurance, and they should be able to choose the hospital they want to use,” Mr Miles said.

“The entire premise of taxpayer subsidised private health insurance is to take pressure off the public system.

“Increasingly, private patients want to be treated in public hospitals. They should be able to use their insurance — which they pay thousands of dollars for.

“If the private hospitals succeed in their campaign they will drive even more Australians to desert private health insurance.”

The recent Heads of Agreement put forward by the Commonwealth seeks to tackle this issue directly by ensuring “the information and process for patients electing to use private health insurance in public hospital emergency departments is appropriate, robust and best supports consumer choice.” This week Tasmania and the Northern Territory signed up to the Heads of Agreement, leaving only Queensland and Victoria to commit.

The medical technology industry has always maintained – given it represents 10% of private health insurers overall costs – real savings would come from other areas of the health system including private hospitals and medical services.

CEO of the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA), Ian Burgess, said the MedTech industry is incurring a $1.1 billion cut which is going directly to the private health insurance companies to improve the affordability of their insurance products.

“We’re the major reason this year’s average private health insurance premium increase was the lowest in 17 years,” Mr Burgess said.

“MTAA strongly supports the need for a healthy and viable private health insurance sector in Australia.

“Our dual public and private healthcare system means reform is complex and challenging but to ensure it’s sustainable all stakeholders need to be held to a level of transparency.”

Reform in healthcare is clearly a hot issue and will continue to be as we hurtle towards the next Federal election.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

CALL FOR LARGE-SCALE INVESTMENT IN AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL INNOVATIONS

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Australia has the potential to lead markets and create new ones by applying cutting-edge science and technology to new, first in world applications that improve human health.

Frontier technologies in areas like precision medicine, machine learning, the human microbiome, gene and cell-based medicines, space medicine and immunotherapy are being researched in Australia. Innovations such as these will fundamentally change the way future generations manage their health. The challenge is to make sure this research is commercialised in Australia and that the health benefits are enjoyed by Australians.

“The Medical Research Future Fund is a once in a generation opportunity to change our future. In a series of conversations with health funders – both Government and the private sector – we have been canvassing ways in which we could use the MRFF to make large-scale investment into a suite of research at the outer limits of what we currently know about human health.

“We don’t want to be too definitive about exactly what areas of research this should cover, but it should certainly be focused around disciplines and technologies not yet routinely applied in mainstream healthcare settings,” said Research Australia CEO, Nadia Levin.

Under Research Australia’s Medical Frontiers proposal, the Government could invest around 10 per cent of the MRFF in frontier research with the potential to transform how healthcare is practiced in Australia and overseas. You might have seen this proposal in our Pre-Budget Submission and in our ongoing political engagement activities.

“Essentially it is about economies of scale – we’re asking the Government to inject significant amounts into existing potential frontier research projects to exponentially boost their progress towards a translatable stage. The project which emerges as leader of the pack of these “boosted” projects will receive large-scale funding to enable a frontier outcome.

“This is innovative HMR funding. It’s new and bold and importantly, it positions Australia as a valuable contender in the global health space which means more opportunities for us all,” Ms Levin said.

Smarter investment in innovation in the health and medical research sector contributes to ensuring Australia’s future wealth is built on the capacity and ingenuity of its people.

“We put ideas like this on the table for the consideration of both public and private sector research funders because as the national peak body, we have a responsibility to talk more about how health and medical research can contribute to Australia’s health wealth and economic wealth.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

THE BEATING HEART OF THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT COMES LIFE

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Some of the key issues the Agreement Workplan seeks to address includes:

  • Support sector stability and sustainability
  • Reduce the time to market for medical devices
  • Ensure Australian patients have access to safe, effective, and cost effective innovative medical devices in the private sector
  • Improve the transparency and efficiency of the Prostheses List arrangements
  • Recognise superior clinical performance
  • Support Australian medical technology innovation

“The release of the Agreement workplan and industry working groups terms of reference is important to ensure transparency around this process and the delivery of reforms that are in the Agreement,” said Ian Burgess, Chief Executive Officer of the Medical Technology Association of Australia.

“Under this Agreement, the MedTech industry is incurring revenue cuts of $1.1 billion which goes directly to the private health insurance companies to improve the affordability of their insurance products.

“We are the major reason that this year’s average private health insurance premium increase was the lowest in 17 years.

“Full implementation of the reforms contained in the Agreement is essential to ensure that patients benefit from improved access to medical technology.”

Under the Agreement, three Industry Working Groups (IWGs) have been established each with a specific focus.

The most challenging of the three includes developing a revised framework for benefit setting and benefit review reflecting the use of health technology assessment (HTA) including evaluation of the value, cost-effectiveness and innovation of medical technology.

The second involving reducing red tape to improve the transparency and efficiency of the Prostheses List (PL) arrangements through the quality and content of the information contained in the Guidelines and the Prostheses List Management System (PLMS).

Lastly, the Cardiac Technical Support Services has been tasked to make recommendations and provide advice on how technical support services for active implantable cardiac devices should be funded to ensure the Australian healthcare system and privately insured patients receive maximum benefit from this technology.

“The Prostheses List (PL) ensures privately insured patients continue to access safe and clinically effective prostheses however this Agreement will provide the PL with much needed reform,” said Mr Burgess.

“For example, the removal of two-year follow-up clinical data as an unnecessary and standard requirement for assessment of some devices will greatly improve access to market.

“Sufficient clinical evidence, appropriate to the device, will still need to be submitted to enable a comparative assessment of clinical performance for the purposes of setting benefits on the PL.

“This will ensure the PL remains robust but recognises the quantum of follow-up data required will vary with the type of prosthesis, its intended use and the quantity of other relevant clinical evidence available or previously assessed.”

The Workplan makes it clear the Agreement will review ways to list new targeted devices on the PL that do not meet the current criteria for listing by 30 June 2020.

“Further, as reiterated by Hearts4Heart – Time to Change the Beat report non-implantable devices such as catheter ablation need to be included on the PL to relieve pressure on public waiting lists for patients with atrial fibrillation, said Mr Burgess.

“Inequity of treatment is not in the best interest of private health insurance policy holders.

“We believe access to a full range of medical technology is the most valuable component of a private health insurance policy and we’re committed to doing what we do best – assist patients lead healthier and more productive lives.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS HOSPITAL INVESTS IN LATEST MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO IMPROVE ENDOSCOPY SERVICES FOR PATIENTS

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Southern Highlands Private Hospital, located in Bowral NSW, provides an extensive range of onsite medical, surgical, rehabilitation, oncology and palliative care services for the community of the Southern Highlands, and beyond to the regional and rural areas.

Patient health, safety and comfort are the hospital’s main concerns and Southern Highlands Private Hospital continually monitors and evaluates its performance to ensure compliance with world-class hospital standards.

In keeping with the hospital’s enviable reputation for high quality care, Southern Highlands recently upgraded to the latest endoscopy platform from Olympus, ensuring that all patients requiring an endoscopy procedure such as a colonoscopy and gastroscopy, in the local community and beyond, have access to the latest technology.

“Ensuring patients health and wellbeing, safety and comfort is our top priority and we are very excited about continuing to provide endoscopy services, by investing in the latest technology from Olympus, the world leading manufacturer of this type of equipment. The Private Hospital aims to continue to provide accessible services to our local community and beyond, and to achieve this, we offer an innovative ‘Open/Rapid Access Service’ so endoscopies can be performed in a timely manner by both the Gastroenterologists and Specialist Surgeons,” said Jenny Harper, CEO, Southern Highlands Hospital.

The new fleet of endoscopes have the latest imaging technology that allow for superior magnification and accurate detection of polyps and pre-malignant lesions in the gastrointestinal tract. They are particularly useful to differentiate different polyp types and tell benign polyps apart from malignant ones. This technology results in greater confidence to provide appropriate therapy for such lesions.

According to Dr Farzan Bahin, a Gastroenterologist who provides Endoscopy Services at the Private Hospital, “The newer scopes have improved handling capabilities which allow for a smoother navigation of the instrument and thus a decreased requirement for deep sedation during the procedure. This enhances the overall experience for patients having their procedures at Southern Highlands Private Hospital. The overall outcome for patients and the community are very likely to be improved through the introduction of the latest generation of endoscopes.”

Southern Highlands Hospital strives to improve patient outcomes and volume capability for the residents of Bowral and neighbouring communities – delivering high quality care close to home.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

VALUE-BASED HEALTHCARE IN AUSTRALIA

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Global healthcare thought-leaders are increasingly focused on the shift from ‘volume’ to ‘value’, thanks to the work of Harvard’s Michael Porter. Many have assumed Australia is well positioned to take a leading role in the ‘value-based healthcare’ (VBHC) movement – but is this really the case?

It’s important to first look at some of the key foundation stones of VBHC:

  • Awareness and Intent: VBHC requires a shared commitment among stakeholders – experts, payers, clinicians, administrators, and consumers – to move away from healthcare payments focused on volume of services delivered or products utilised, and towards a system where payments are focused on the value of outcomes delivered;
  • Data and Metrics: Connected and shared data systems are used to track and assess the outcomes achieved, and costs incurred for services delivered. While varying in size and complexity, the ability to track outcomes, agreed by stakeholders, through diagnosis and the care pathway is critical;
  • Integrated Care Pathways: VBHC requires optimal treatment pathways be adopted and followed by care-providers to improve the efficiencies and outcomes of healthcare;
  • Bundled Care: Bundling brings together related activities and processes over time, providing more holistic care for an illness event or condition. Bundles define the care requirements and timeframes expected to achieve the desired patient outcome. They can also improve the tracking of healthcare costs; and
  • Aligned Provider Units or Networks: Ensuring healthcare delivery settings are aligned is the best way to achieve the most efficient and effective care.

So, using the key foundation stones as a yardstick, how does Australia stack up?

On ‘awareness and intent’ there is a growing mindfulness in Australia of the general concepts of ‘value-based healthcare’. This is evidenced by State and Territory health departments stating their desire to move in this direction.

For example, the 2018 Heads of Agreements between the Commonwealth and the States and Territories on public hospital funding and health reform references payments based on outcomes and quality of life. However, a deep understanding of the principles of VBHC remain patchy, which too often leads discussions away from achieving value through outcomes to achieving value by driving down the price of products and services. Until we move to paying for real outcomes, valued by consumers, we will continue to miss the mark.

When it comes to ‘data and metrics’ it is a mixed story, again. The only comprehensive datasets across the care continuum that currently exist are in the Veterans Affairs area. Segments of the Commonwealth and States, as well as private stakeholders, hold significant datasets of varying applicability. Despite recent positive moves by the respective Commonwealth and State health departments to free up data access and transfers, they remain largely fragmented and poorly shared amongst stakeholders.

The real golden opportunity for Australia is to leverage the MyHealth record which will move to an opt-out model soon. If properly utilised, this could become a very powerful tool for gauging outcome measures at a population level. Whether existing systems could be used very much depends, at this point, on the scale and breadth of the ambition.

With regard to the remaining foundation stones: the available clinical guidelines currently fall short of a comprehensive set of care pathways measured for compliance and outcomes. There are some pockets, public and private, of provider units and networks that aim to provide better managed care, but their results are rarely tracked and published.

The Federal Government’s Healthcare Homes initiative, which is rolling out some bundled payments in primary care for some chronic conditions in select communities, is an important first step to better coordinate care. However, by being restricted to primary care, being fully administrated within General Practice and not yet paid on a true outcomes basis, limits the initiative in its full VBHC effectiveness.

Ensuring procurement systems are aligned is critical for identifying non-traditional solutions to health problems. This might include flexible methodologies aimed at procuring value rather than a set of predetermined attributes at the lowest price.

Having spent time considering the question of Australia as a leader in VBHC, there are some promising signs. Health systems within Australia are increasingly aware of VBHC principles, and are developing VBHC ambitions, however, it remains the case that we still have a long way to go. To fully realise these ambitions, we will need considerable progress in data linkages. We will also need to develop methods of pooling funds across the many fragmented Commonwealth and State primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare, rehabilitation and aged care, and public and private healthcare systems to commission care based on outcomes.

So, until there is a deliberate set of policy reforms aimed at facilitating VBHC in Australia, it is likely to remain limited to small scale pilot programs and/or in simpler disease states.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_zigzag][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”1848″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ANDREW WILTSHIRE   is Senior Director, Government Affairs, Asia Pacific. He is responsible for managing Government Relations, coordinating and driving Government Affairs strategies and best practices within APAC – supporting the execution of regional and business strategic objectives.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY WITH THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM LIVES GETS CASH INJECTION

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, the Medical Technology, Biotechnology, and Pharmaceutical (MTP) Industry Growth Centre and the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) announced earlier this week the first 11 recipients of a $10 million investment from the Australian Government’s $35 million BioMedTech Horizons program.

The program aims to help Australia move more cutting-edge ideas and breakthrough discoveries towards proof-of-concept and commercialisation, and stimulate collaboration across disciplines and between the research, industry and technology sectors to maximize entrepreneurship and idea potential.

Investments from the program are focused on precision medicine and 3D anatomical printing. Successful projects in this first round include a fully synthetic 3D printed spinal cage, a genome profiling platform to enable precision cancer medicine, a wireless Brain-Machine Interface suitable for treating neurological disorders, and microwearables for precision medicine.

Minister Hunt said  the Government is committed to improving the health services for all Australians and will continue to invest in better treatment, care and medical research.

“Our researchers are innovators, and this investment will speed up the journey from idea to reality. These technologies have the potential to create better health outcomes for Australians, while driving investment and strengthening our economy. All Australians benefit from investment in health and medical research,” Mr Hunt said.

Ian Burgess, CEO of MTAA, said the industry was proud to be part of the BioMedTech Horizons program and supporting Australian innovation.

“Our Agreement with the Government to reform the Prostheses List has provided an additional $30 million towards the BioMedTech Horizons program and has doubled the funding available for these first recipients,” Mr Burgess said.

“Global advances in medical technology have resulted in a 56 per cent reduction in hospital stays and a 16 per cent drop in annual mortality rates over the past 20 years.

“If we want to see further advances on these figures we need to address the inequity of treatment options in our health system by removing the barrier for non-implantable devices such as catheter ablation in the private health system.

“This shows the significant value that medical technology can provide – saving and improving the lives of patients, and saving costs to our health system. These exciting technologies  being supported by the BioMedTech Horizons program can similarly lead to saving and improving lives, and contributing enormous value to the Australian health system.”

Sue MacLeman, Managing Director and CEO of MTPConnect, said the delivery of the BioMedTech Horizons program is providing the necessary support to boost investment, commercialisation and success of health innovations in Australia.

“These first investments from the BioMedTech Horizons program are set to fuel ongoing innovation in Australia, in line with MTPConnect’s priorities for growth of the medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector,” Ms MacLeman said.

“These 11 outstanding projects address identified global megatrends including precision healthcare and the digital evolution, as well as forecast areas of unmet clinical need, such as immunology, advanced prosthetics and infectious diseases including sepsis.

“MTPConnect is dedicated to working with the sector to ensure growth in collaboration between research and industry, to drive greater commercialisation. The BioMedTech Horizons program is set to address barriers of funding to support viable, new health biological and medical technologies to reach proof-of-concept, clinical trials and beyond, in line with our vision to advance the vibrant sector.”[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1875″ img_size=”full”][vc_separator][vc_column_text]The Gennaris Neural Systems project led by Director of Monash Vision Group, Professor Arthur Lowery, said the Federal Government’s support for this project would enable them to bring manufacturing back to Australian shores, allowing Australia to become a leading provider of advanced medical prosthetics that place sophisticated electronics within the human body.

“This funding is key to translating the First in Human trials of our cortical visual prosthesis to a successful commercial product,” Mr Lowery said.

“Bringing together advances in electronics and implantable devices open up a huge range of potential applications and potential treatments for neurodegeneration.”

Partner to the Gennaris Neural Systems project and Grey Innovation Group Chairman, Jefferson Harcourt, said the BioMedTech Horizons program is very well targeted and plays an important role in translating research.

“It is very encouraging to see us working together and playing to our strengths as a sector”, said Mr Harcourt.

“Delivering real collaboration takes time and trust from all sides, and in the past frankly there has been a lot of hype. Times are clearly changing, and I applaud the Government and MTPConnect for having the conviction to allocate meaningful funds to targeted and well-constructed consortia. This will significantly increase the chances of success.”

The medical technology industry currently employs more than 17,700 people and adds $1.9 billion to the Australian economy. This is a high skilled, high net worth industry with over 52 per cent of employees having a tertiary qualification, and 25 per cent having a postgraduate qualification.

MTPConnect will continue its work with the sector to support initiatives addressing identified barriers to growth in the sector, increasing the number of innovations to reach proof of concept and clinical trials in key knowledge priority areas.

The 11 projects selected for the initial $10 million BioMedTech Horizons program investment are listed below:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion color=”turquoise” active_section=”1″][vc_tta_section title=”3D printed graft for surgical repair of the wrist ligament” tab_id=”1524111574159-3ca495cd-2645″][vc_column_text]Griffith University, Orthocell, University of Western Australia, Queensland University of Technology


Development of a 3D printed, personalised graft for surgical repair of the Scapholunate interosseous wrist ligament (SLIL) is set to produce the first SLIL repair product on the market. SLIL injuries are common and can severely impair wrist function for the 69 cases of wrist trauma per 10,000 individuals. SLIL injuries are most common in young individuals, causing long-term chronic difficulties. Therefore, a product that offers better health outcomes is likely to significantly reduce economic burden on healthcare systems over the life time of such patients. This project will support pre-clinical research and development to enable Orthocell to start human clinical trials, seek regulatory approval and commercialise.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”B3D Cervical Interbody Fusion Device ” tab_id=”1524111549409-5fdd9e13-a87f”][vc_column_text]Allegra Orthopaedics, University of Sydney, University of Wollongong, Boron Molecular, Sabre Medical

The Allegra Orthopaedics fully synthetic spinal cage works to regenerate bone under spinal load conditions and be completely resorbed by the body, leaving it and the intervertebral space free of foreign materials – making it a one-of-a-kind innovation. The device is 3D-printed from a synthetic bone bioceramic (Sr-HT-Gahnite) invented at The University of Sydney. The synthetic bone possesses the mechanical strength required for load-bearing conditions, bioactivity needed for outstanding bone regeneration, and resorbability that reduces the risk of rejection and infection – all in a customisable structure. No bone graft is required as the device material induces bone graft. This project will provide the necessary funding for device production for preclinical testing.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”BioPen” tab_id=”1524111512736-be45f446-cc84″][vc_column_text]The University of Melbourne, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, University of Wollongong, Swinburne University of Technology

The BioPen is set to provide the first in-situ bioprinting treatment for cartilage injuries, developed at the St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne biofabrication facility, BioFab3D@ACMD. Cartilage injuries occur in two thirds of all joint trauma, with many leading to osteoarthritis that cannot be adequately prevented or treated using current complex surgery interventions. The BioPen project is working to accurately repair the joint injury, by rapidly isolating stem cells from a patient, loading these into a gel scaffold then printing new cartilage using a hand-held device directly into the defect. The combination of stem cell technology, engineering and surgical innovation promises to simplify surgery through a one-off surgical procedure with the capacity to bank cells for future use if repeat surgery is required. The BioMedTech Horizons funding will enable this project to advance a prototype device, methodologies and bio-ink formulations towards a commercialisable therapy.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”CAR-T immunotherapies for solid cancers” tab_id=”1524111469305-4815abcc-1e35″][vc_column_text]Carina Biotech, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Women’s and Children’s Hospital Adelaide, CTM@CRC

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is an individually customised approach to cancer treatment that genetically engineers a patient’s own immune cells to react to a specific molecular marker on their cancer. CAR-T therapy has shown extraordinary efficacy against blood cancers, however solid cancers have been less responsive to CAR-T therapy to date. Carina Biotech has produced CAR-T cells targeted to a solid cancer molecular marker, which has been published as present in many solid cancers, while having no expression on healthy cells. BioMedTech Horizons investment will allow Carina to work to achieve in-vivo proof of concept for its CAR-T cells across multiple animal models of human solid cancer.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”A clinically-accredited and commercial-ready genome profiling platform to enable precision cancer medicine” tab_id=”1524111421463-67e12ef9-3bab”][vc_column_text]Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Genome.One, Illumina

Precision cancer medicine is set to transform the clinical trial industry, with international trials attracting heavy investment. This next generation of clinical trials requires fast, comprehensive and cost-effective genomic profiling of patient tumours. The FDA recently approved two US cancer genomic tests, however, their cost (AU$5,500) is prohibitive for routine use in Australia and their matching to US-approved drugs and trials are of limited utility to Australians. Offshore testing also fails to develop necessary domestic infrastructure for precision cancer clinical trials.  The genome-profiling platform for precision cancer medicine is set to include a clinically-accredited tumour profiling test and a cancer genomics data platform that incorporates a national patient matching system for precision cancer clinical trial access. It aims to provide competitively priced and rapid local testing. These solutions work to ensure that, in the face of increasing global capabilities and investment in precision cancer clinical trials, Australia will remain an attractive trial site and leader in precision medicine.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”EarGenie: Personalised management of hearing impairment for infants” tab_id=”1524111262689-0113ff94-a030″][vc_column_text]Bionics Institute, Hydrix, Taralye Early intervention Centre, Plunkett Consulting Group, Australian Hearing

EarGenie is an innovative system for personalised management of hearing impairment, aiming to enable life-long benefits using a novel combination of electrophysiology and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to perform a diagnostic hearing evaluation. Deaf infants face delayed and inadequate language development, affecting education, social participation, and even employment later in life. Major contributing factors are the delay between diagnosis and the selection and accurate adjustment of hearing devices, delayed individualised optimisation of device features, and difficulty choosing a specific therapy to optimise language development. EarGenie is set to transform the precision of diagnosis and optimisation of hearing instrument function, to deliver major benefit to language development in deaf children. This project will allow for the development of a clinical prototype as well as plans for regulatory approval and clinical trials.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Gennaris Neural Systems (GNS)” tab_id=”1524111262606-419c966c-a95e”][vc_column_text]Monash University, Alfred Health, MiniFAB, Grey Innovation

Monash Vision Group (MVG) has developed a wireless Brain-Machine Interface (BMI, offering the potential to bypass damage to nerves and neural pathways, restoring function to affected areas of the brain. MVG’s Brain-Machine Interface has been implemented in a cortical vision prosthesis that is designed to bypass damage to the visual pathway and restore basic vision. This funding will assist the transition between preclinical and clinical programs, allowing the utility of the visual prosthesis to be demonstrated. A company will be established to manufacture MVG’s Brain-Machine Interface and commercialise the visual prosthesis. The aim of this company is to bring the product to market by 2021 to address the unmet need of a treatment for complete blindness. MVG’s cortical vision prosthesis has been designed to treat a range of blindness causes, such as glaucoma and optic nerve damage, which are not suitable for retinal implants. The successful commercialisation of this technology will establish Australia as an exporter of implantable medical devices, and global market leader in BMI manufacturing.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Leaping towards precision medicine: Microwearables” tab_id=”1524111599138-bf1ca2f8-1b66″][vc_column_text]WearOptimo, The Australian National University, Queensland Government, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Australia National Fabrication Facility

Microwearables (simple, wearable devices) have the opportunity to be a cornerstone of precision medicine by offering personalised diagnostics across a range of diseases. These devices are minimally-invasive, pain-free sensors applied to the skin to access biomarkers and biosignals. Microwearables transduce electrical, optical or biochemical biomarkers from a hair’s width depth within the skin for both episodic and continuous monitoring. In doing so, it aims to leapfrog traditional diagnostics: based on lab-based assays of blood samples and histopathology – with the costs, risks and time-delays. WearOptimo will be developed as a fit-for-purpose enterprise to rapidly compete at scale – meeting the unique opportunity at the nexus of three growing markets: IoT for medicine; personalised medicine; and wearable electronics for healthcare. This project will take the next critical step in working to advance Microwearables into an enterprise – to commercial, proof-of-concept, and investor ready.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”‘PoreStar’ – Porous Polyethylene Implant Material ” tab_id=”1524111692209-71cba53e-1736″][vc_column_text]Anatomics

In 2014, Anatomics, in conjunction with CSIRO and Australian universities, developed a breakthrough pHDPE implant material, PoreStar. PoreStar’s material advantages include its superior tensile and flexural strength avoiding cracks when bent, the ability to adhere with screws very close to the implant margins without material breakage, and a unique scaffold architecture that facilitates tissue ingrowth. This project aims to advance the state-of-the-art in craniomaxillofacial (CMF) implant manufacturing, leveraging 3D printing to reduce process complexity, product turnaround time and cost of goods. Moreover, the project seeks to improve surgical practice by extending the use of temporary implants to patient-specific CMF surgeries, and develop improved software solutions for surgical planning and preoperative estimation of cosmesis, aiming to reduce complications and reoperation rates for CMF surgeries.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Rapid diagnostic for the pathogens that cause sepsis” tab_id=”1524111727437-fcd722ee-5f3b”][vc_column_text]Biotech Resources, Monash University Centre for Biospectroscopy, The Alfred Hospital, Monash Health, Hydrix

Biotech Resources (BTR) is working to develop the world’s first rapid diagnostic test ‘Aimalux’ for the direct detection of the bacteria and fungi that cause sepsis from whole blood. The technology and platform has been developed by the Monash University Centre for Biospectroscopy in Melbourne Australia. Sepsis is a life-threatening disease that results in the deaths of over 6 million people every year around the world, and more than 5,000 Australians. It is time critical medical emergency. Every hour without treatment increases a patient’s chance of dying by 7.6%. And yet there is no definitive test for sepsis with more than 30% of cases going misdiagnosed. If the symptoms of Sepsis are missed and treatment is not administered, then this can result in patient death. This also means that many patients are treated unnecessarily as a precaution, which has its own detrimental consequences as well as adding to the rise of antibiotic resistance super bugs. Aimalux aims to provide a diagnostic result within 35 minutes, to revolutionise the way sepsis is currently diagnosed, reduce healthcare costs, and save lives.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Towards bedside gene therapies: Development of a microfluidic gene delivery device for immune cell modification and optimisation for clinical use” tab_id=”1524111767698-bd213694-22ad”][vc_column_text]Indee, University of South Australia Future Industries Institute, Main Sequence Ventures, Defence Science Technologies Group, University of Sydney, Becton Dickinson

Pioneering cures for terminally ill patients, with conditions including many forms of cancer, are now available thanks to a new generation of treatments called gene-modified cell therapies (GMCTs). Indee Labs plans to make GMCTs accessible to the masses by solving manufacturing issues responsible for their high price tags. It also aims to reduce the lead times for a treatment from months to weeks, saving the lives of patients with aggressive conditions. Gene delivery to cells is the most critical and problematic step in manufacturing GMCTs. This project aims to will develop the only practical gene delivery technology, microfluidic vortex shedding (µVS), into a product that will be trailed by pharmaceutical companies. µVS will offer revolutionary improvements over existing gene delivery methods including high yield, negligible immune cell perturbation along with rapid processing of research-, clinical- and commercial-scale samples with a simple workflow and a small footprint.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For more information on the BioMedTech Horizons program and first round recipients, visit www.mtpconnect.org.au/biomedtechhorizons.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

CONNECTING THE BEST MEDTECH IDEAS TO GLOBAL MARKETS

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Australia’s largest medical device accelerator program, MedTech’s Got Talent, will receive a $500,000 grant through the Incubator Support initiative to build start-ups in the fields of medical devices, laboratory equipment, diagnostics, bionics and eHealth.

MedTech’s Got Talent provides entrepreneurs with mentoring, resources, knowledge and access to business networks to help them develop their ideas, generate investment and get their products to market.

Minister for Jobs and Innovation, Michaelia Cash said the Incubator Support initiative was encouraging incubators and accelerators like MedTech’s Got Talent to improve the prospects of Australian start-ups.

“The Turnbull Government is committed to assisting STEM professionals with access to commercial opportunities and global markets in order to create jobs here at home,” Minister Cash said.

“The MedTech’s Got Talent program equips our scientists and researchers with the capability needed to transform ideas into viable businesses and access international markets faster than they otherwise would,” Minister Cash said.

Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation, Craig Laundy said the program provided many benefits for start-ups across the country.

“Programs like this level the playing field to allow start-ups to access the same resources as their multinational counterparts,” Minister Laundy said.

“The access to real talent, mentors, money, expertise and networks will put these start-ups in the best position for commercial success.”

The Federal Government is investing in science and innovation to ensure we grow new businesses and create jobs. The Incubator Support initiative is part of the continued implementation of the Government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda.

Further details of the grant recipients: www.business.gov.au/incubator-recipients

Further information on Incubator Support grants: www.business.gov.au/assistance/incubator-support[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

SURVEY REVEALS PATIENTS FACING OUT-OF-POCKET BILL OF $10,000 OR MORE

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It seems like a week doesn’t go by when healthcare costs aren’t the front of the news.  Late last week the Consumer Health Forum of Australia released its national survey of out-of-pocket costs from some 1,200 patients. It highlights that specialist fees and critical services are becoming unaffordable to Australians raising further pressure on the private health insurance and the private health system more broadly.

 The survey report Out of Pocket Pain and a companion report Hear Our Pain containing scores of personal stories of people’s experience with treatment costs.

“The responses to the survey give a disturbing insight into the high costs of medical care and challenge the notion that everyone can access the care they need in Australia,” the CEO of the Consumers Health Forum Leanne Wells, said

“We have heard from pensioners and single mothers who have foregone recommended care because of cost, from many people exasperated to find that the insurance they have held for many years will not cover gaps of thousands of dollars, from patients who learn belatedly of unexpected extra costs for junior surgeons, anaesthetists and MRI scans, and from people who have had to call for special access to their superannuation funds to cover the bill.” Leanne Wells, said

Among key results of the survey are:

  • More than a quarter of respondents treated for breast cancer incurred out of pocket costs of more than $10,000;
  • More than a third of respondents with chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis reported out of pocket costs of more than $10,000;
  • One in six respondents said that out of pocket costs had a significant impact on their lives;
  • A frequently-expressed view that using private health insurance would expose people to more costs; and
  • A third of respondents said the out of pocket costs were not explained to them before treatment.

This comes as the second meeting of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Out-of-Pocket Costs, chaired by Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy recently took place.

The meeting was attended by the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP who reinforced that a healthy and stable private health insurance system is essential for the stability of Australia’s overall health care system.

Minister Hunt spoke about the Government’s commitment to work with the stakeholders to address community concerns around large unexpected out-of-pocket costs and the need for a transparent model to ensure consumers have the ability to make an informed decision on their medical treatment.

Breast Cancer Network Australia CEO Kirsten Pilatti said: “BCNA has been outraged by a number of our members reporting extreme variations in out of pocket costs. Only full disclosure will ensure consumers can make the right choice for themselves.”

The CEO of CHOICE, Alan Kirkland said: “It can be completely perplexing and sometimes impossible for patients in need of surgery to work out how much they will be out of pocket. What’s worse, this often occurs when you are at your most vulnerable and least able to bargain over costs.”

“It’s not surprising that so many patients have reported significant out-of-pocket medical costs, even when they have private health insurance, Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) Chief Executive Alison Verhoeven said.

“As the private healthcare system, its out-of-pocket costs and increasing confusion continue to run away from us, we reiterate our own call for a Productivity Commission review of the health system, including an appropriate and affordable balance between private and public healthcare that is patient-centred rather than provider-centred.”

Rachel David from Private Healthcare Australia said: “While we can’t discount the very real concerns reported to the CHF, we need to be very careful about drawing conclusions about the extent of the problem from a survey that essentially solicits complaints.”

PulseLine will be interested to see if the Government’s forthcoming private health reforms deliver the much-needed transparency for consumers and puts downwards pressure on healthcare costs. Reform in healthcare is clearly a hot issue and will continue to be as we hurtle towards the next Federal election in the first half of 2019.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

PELVIC MESH SENATE INQUIRY REPORT RELEASED

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Since February 2017, the Senate Community Affairs References Committee has considered more than 550 submissions from patients, surgeons, medical device companies, regulators and other stakeholders. The Committee also held five public hearings across Australia, hearing testimony from a number of stakeholders, including from women who bravely shared their stories of experiencing complications from their treatments.

The Committee recognised both the complexity of the conditions – stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse – and treatment options available to clinicians and acknowledging the many Australian women whom have benefited from procedures involving transvaginal mesh products.

The Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) and some of its member companies also testified before the committee, acknowledging the pain and suffering experienced by the women who had testified before the Committee, but also reiterated its agreement with groups representing medical professionals, that the products remain important treatment options.

Urogynaecological Society of Australasia (UGSA) Chair, Dr Jenny King, said the Committee’s recommendation that all mesh devices should be used as a last resort would affects women’s options for care by limiting access to the safest and most effective surgical treatment for urinary incontinence, the mid-urethral slings.

“This decision is one of the most retrograde steps in the history of modern surgery. It simply disregards sound scientific data,” Dr King said.

Australian Medical Association President, Dr Michael Gannon, added that not all women had problems with the devices.

“It [the report] fails to recognise the massive number of women who have benefited from mid-urethral sling operations,” he said.

The MTAA’s CEO, Ian Burgess, said the industry body is committed to working with the Government as it considers its response to the Committee’s report.

“Registries can be invaluable but they are complex and expensive. We need to ensure that when we set up a registry we’re very clear around what data is being collected and the extent of that data,” Mr Burgess said.

“Further, in terms of the cost of registries, we need to ensure all those that benefit pay for it – including regulators, healthcare professionals, insurers, hospitals and policy makers.

“The Committee also recommends the Department of Health work with MTAA and the Medical Board to review systems in place to support consistent, high ethical standards. The report notes the evidence of MTAA and member companies that no financial or other incentives have been provided to medical practitioners to use or promote transvaginal mesh implants, and that members of MTAA are bound by a Code of Practice that sets high standards for ethical interactions with healthcare providers.

“Should the Government accept this recommendation, we look forward to working with the Department. A key reform would be the implementation of a harmonised industry code of practice which all device manufacturers and suppliers are required to adhere to by law or regulation. The MTAA Code of Practice would be an appropriate basis for such a harmonised code.”

PulseLine understands the Government will be looking to complete its response by the end of November.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

$5M HOSPITAL RE-DEVELOPMENT COMPLETE

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ‘blue rooms’ as they are affectionately known (due to their blue glass walls and blue lighting) will help to reduce waiting times for patients as the rooms will facilitate procedures, which as recently as five years ago, may have required an operation.

RBWH’s Director of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Dr Mark Appleyard said the blue rooms were equipped with the latest technology.

“These rooms have the latest endoscopy medical equipment and operating room integration technologies including video streaming and external broadcasting. From a design perspective, the blue lighting and glass wall panels improve the contrast of the video monitors, so the tissues that we’re looking at become more crisp and easier to see.”

“Not only will these rooms allow us to see more patients, they also play a key role in the training and education of our staff by increasing collaboration amongst specialists and trainees and will also allow us to host live, online workshops,” said Dr Appleyard.

After the first ‘blue room’ went live in July 2017, the completion of the second room in late September 2017 has resulted in RBWH being able to perform an additional 2,500 endoscopy procedures per year, greatly improving patient services.

“The technology we have now will allow us to conduct procedures that traditionally four to five years ago patients may have needed operations for, so not only can we treat more patients, but we can look to avoid, where possible, the longer patient recovery times associated with surgery,” said Dr Appleyard.

The redevelopment at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital forms a pivotal part of the Queensland government’s $160m Endoscopy Action Plan aimed at delivering 50,000 additional procedures over the next four years to ensure Queensland public hospitals keep pace with the growing demand for the procedure.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]