Medtech – contributing to a sustainable healthcare system

Next Tuesday 8 November is MTAA’s annual conference, Medtech 2011, with a theme which focuses on the contribution made by medical technology to supporting the sustainability of the healthcare system. Much of the research undertaken by MTAA articulates the value proposition for investment in medical technology as a contributor to good health outcomes. The challenge is in determining health priorities and management of the investment in health solutions. A robust industry is an essential partner in ensuring sustainability. Several of the conference sessions take up these themes, from the global perspective offered by Steve Ubl, President and CEO of AdvaMed in the US, to panel discussions on access to new technologies, and on changing procurement models.

I encourage everyone with an interest in the issues being addressed by the medtech sector to participate in the conference. See link below to register.

NSW Manufacturing Industry Action Plan

MTAA has welcomed the release by the NSW Government of the terms of reference for development of a Manufacturing Industry Action Plan. One of the target industries to be addressed in the action plan is biomedical and medical devices. With over 54% of the industry located in NSW, it is encouraging that the NSW Government has identified the sector for further development. The action plan is required to articulate a way to progress priority issues such as skills, regulatory barriers, innovation and productivity, R&D, infrastructure and policy reform. MTAA will be making a submission to the Manufacturing Industry Taskforce outlining the value delivered to NSW through investment in the medical technology sector. For more information, please click here.

Anne Trimmer
Chief Executive Officer
Medical Technology Association of Australia

Only a few more days left before the start of the MTAA conference MedTech 2011: Medical technology – building sustainable healthcare on Tuesday 8 November 2011 at Doltone House, Sydney. Online registration will be open until COB 4 November. Registration will be available at the conference registration desk on the day. Register now!

MTAA wishes to thank the mayor sponsor Pharmaceutical & Medical Professionals and sponsors Healthcare Placement Solutions and Persona Grata for their generous and ongoing support of the conference.

There has been a change of speaker with Professor Ric Marshall of the Interim Independent Hospital Pricing Authority taking over from Tony Sherbon to discuss Activity Based Funding in plenary 2.

A program and list of speakers is available from the MTAA website.

Amendments to the Code of Practice to create the 7th Edition were passed unanimously by members of MTAA at its Annual General Meeting on 25 October 2011. The changes became effective on 1 November 2011. Changes include:

• Preamble (section 1)
• References to Trade Practices legislation (clauses 3 and 5.1)
• Objectives and scope of the Code (clause 4.3)
• Advertising and promotion of products (clause 5)
• Company sponsored training and education and medical technology demonstrations and resort locations (clause 6.2)
• Guidance on modest hospitality and lodging (clauses 6.2, 6.4 and 6.5)
• Arrangements with healthcare professionals acting as consultants (clause 6.4)
• Research and educational grants and charitable donations (clause 6.9)
• Procedural changes to CMC and complaints processes.

For a copy of the 7th edition of the MTAA Code of Practice and a summary of changes, please follow this link.

Baxter Healthcare is the latest company which has successfully implemented all Code licence requirements and has become the latest MTAA Code licensee. Baxter can now use a special Code licensee logo on letterhead, business cards, promotional material and displayed at meetings and conferences.

The logo identifies medical technology companies which support and comply with the MTAA Code of Practice. As a Code licensee, a company is obliged to sign a licence agreement stating that it supports the principles and requirements of and confirms its commitment to implementing the Code of Practice.

More information on how your company can become a Code licensee is available here.

What’s New?

A new module, 5.16 Customer Focus will shortly be available as self-paced online learning. This module is aimed at medical technology industry employees that work directly with customers and need to develop skills and knowledge for implementing a customer focused approach. It has been developed to align with the unit of competency BSBCUS402A Address Customer Needs. To register your interest, please email pd@mtaa.org.au

Upcoming Training

For a snapshot of upcoming training, please click here.

November

• 5.12 Implementing a Workplace Wellness Program (9 November, online)

December

• 3.5 Introduction to Operating Theatre Protocols (9 December, Sydney)

E-learning

More healthcare facilities are become strict with MCRs providing evidence of ACORN approved training. Don’t forget, experienced MCRs who regularly enter the perioperative environment can complete module 3.6 Operating Theatre Protocol Update online. To register your company for module 3.6, please click here. Following the successful completion of the module, MTAA will issue participants an e-Certificate of Participation and photo ID card valid till July 2012, in line with the next review of the standards.

Contact Details

If you would like to know more about other training opportunities that are available through MTAA, please view the interactive training promotion. For all professional development enquiries, please contact Fiona Shipman, Professional Development Manager by E: pd@mtaa.org.au or P: (+612) 9900 0650.

Survey of Victoria's R&D infrastructure

The Victorian Government Department of Business and Innovation would like to identify opportunities to improve industry access to Victoria’s research and development capabilities. In this instance, “industry” is defined as being organisations that conduct for-profit activities. By capabilities, the Department means major technology platforms, personnel, or key processes that are typically located at Universities, Research Institutes, or other public sector research and development organisations.

The survey seeks input on some of the challenges and opportunities to improve engagement with R&D providers. The input will help Government in the development of its innovation, research and development policy framework.

The survey should take no longer than 20 minutes to complete.

10 year strategic review into health and medical research

The NSW Government has called for final submissions in response to the release of its discussion paper as part of the Peter Wills 10 year strategic review into health and medical research. Final comments are due by Wednesday 16 November. The MTAA submission can be found here.

MTAA, through the Global Medical Technology Association, is working with the World Health Organization (WHO) on a number of projects. One of the current projects is identification of training material that can be used in low resource settings by healthcare professionals, healthcare technicians and others making use of medical technologies. The training material needs to be freely available (either free of copyright or with the copyright owner’s consent to use). The material could be in many different formats - technical manuals or guidelines, videos, wall charts. If you have any material that could be included in a WHO training library could you please contact reception@mtaa.org.au

Australia Unlimited

The Building Brand Australia Program from Australia Unlimited is looking for content ideas to highlight Australian capabilities in business, education, creativity, leadership, science, governance and technology. The content will be used to tell the story of a confident, globally engaged Australia in the international media.

For further information on the Program please follow this link.

Lowitja Institute Endowment Fund

The Lowitja Institute is the principal organisation in Australia concerned solely with research relating to Aboriginal health. The Institute’s predecessor organisations have been two Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) relating to Aboriginal Health, which have provided a base of some 14 years of knowledge and experience. Currently the Institute incorporates a third CRC, the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.

The Institute has now established the Lowitja Institute Endowment Fund to provide a permanent and ongoing source of funding for the Institute’s important research work. The Fund is seeking contributions from medical technology companies. Please contact the Institute on (03) 8341 5504 or access the website for more information.

Medica 2011

The international trade fair Medica, one of the largest fairs in the medical industry will take place from 16-19 November in Dusseldorf Germany.

The NSW Government will have a stand at the fair and any interested companies can contact Crista Bracamonte at the Department of  Industry and Investment at  crista.bracamonte@business.nsw.gov.au or on (02) 9338 6652 for more information.

ASMI: Promoting Self Care Literacy

This year’s event on 16 November 2011 in Sydney will be officially opened by National Manager of the TGA, Dr Rohan Hammett. The AFGC’s Executive Director, Kate Carnell, will be participating in an afternoon panel session.

It will feature an array of local and international speakers who will examine some of the key pillars of self care: the belief that Australians who take personal responsibility for their health and wellbeing can live happier, more independent lives. Self care encompasses many things including health literacy, access to medicines, responsible self-medication, quality use of medicines (QUM), preventative health, labelling and packaging, and the appropriate treatment of minor ailments.

What can key stakeholders such as industry, government, pharmacy and GPs do to provide better access and health choices for consumers? Can consumers actually take more responsibility for their own health? Where should health information come from? How can we work together to increase health literacy in Australia?

Join the debate, find answers and network with colleagues old and new. Full conference program, speaker bios, sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, and delegate registration available at www.asmiconference.com

Research Australia awards dinner

On Wednesday 16 November 2011 Research Australia will be hosting its annual awards dinner, recognising achievements in the health and medical research community. The dinner will also be a celebration of the organisation’s 10th anniversary, marking a decade of working for and within the health and medical research community.

Seats and tables are booking up fast, so if you are interested in attending and have not already registered or responded to Research Australia, please visit our website at www.researchaustralia.org for further information.