Women in MedTech
On International Women's Day, MTAA celebrates the important contribution of Women in MedTech!  In 2016, MTAA was proud to host a number of events including a WiMT Luncheon - Overcoming Barriers, a CEO Roundtable & WiMT panel session at the MTAA Annual Conference.

In 2017, MTAA is actively working on planning more WiMT events this year.  We look forward to your participation & feedback throughout the year.

ALP Health Summit 2017

On Friday, MTAA CEO Ian Burgess & Director of Policy Andrea Kunca were among 150 leading health stakeholders in attendance at the ALP National Health Policy Summit in Canberra. 

The Opposition Leader Bill Shorten addressed the audience “We want to move beyond the boom and bust in healthcare policy in the recent past, the uncertainty created by deep cuts or sudden swerves in policy or funding” 

MTAA CEOs support OzHarvest CEO CookOff

On March 6th, MTAA Member CEOs participated in the annual OzHarvest CEO CookOff. Through their support, the event raised $1.7Million towards food rescue programs throughout Australia.

HR Roundtable only 1 week away!

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

The Medical Industry Workforce & Skills Review identified an overall 3% skills gap in the industry and if left unaddressed, could grow to 26% within 5 years. 

HR professionals and trainers play a critical role in addressing the current skills gap and we invite them to participate in the HR Roundtable on the 15 March 2017.

This Roundtable will explore ways to build relationships with universities and develop industry specific learning and development opportunities.  The event will also provide an opportunity to meet MTAA's new CEO Ian Burgess and network with industry colleagues in the HR area.
 

Free for members who login via My Portal!

Canberra Update

Parliament returned this month just as a Newspoll in The Australian showed the two-party preferred vote being split 55:45 in favour of the ALP. 

Meanwhile, MTAA has been busy meeting with Ministers, Senators, bureaucrats, key health stakeholders and advisers. Ian Burgess had his first meeting with Health Secretary, Martin Bowles and Deputy Secretary, Andrew Stuart as well as with Dr David Gillespie MP, Assistant Minister for Health.  They discussed a range of issues from the Prostheses List reform, the upcoming Senate inquiry and the Therapeutic Goods Amendment Bill. MTAA has reiterated its commitment to working with Government on long-term sustainable reform.

Therapeutic Goods Amendment

The Senate Standing Committee for Selection of Bills recommended the Bill be referred to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 27 March 2017.

A public hearing will take place on the 17 March where we anticipate the Opposition will be seeking assurance and clarity from the TGA around a number of safeguards. The major sticking points are around third-party conformity assessment and post-market surveillance.  MTAA has communicated to Government and other stakeholders our support for this Bill.

Radiation Oncology Health Program Grant

MTAA met with a Senior Advisor in the Health Minister’s office to discuss industry concerns around the decision in last years MYEFO 2016-17 to cut $18.7m from ROHPG Grant scheme.  Key stakeholders believe the quantum of these cuts has been significantly underestimated with significant impact on patients, healthcare providers and medical device suppliers.

The Department is confident in its data but the Minister’s office has committed to reviewing it over the next fortnight and MTAA will coordinate a meeting next week with the Minister’s office to look at the data. That meeting will (also depending on the outcome of the data), look at ways to move forward to resolving the issue.

Prostheses List 2017

The Department of Health has published the Prostheses List No.1, 2017 (effective March 28th) following the Prostheses List Advisory Committee meeting in February.

The New Items, Deleted Items and three Changed Items reports provide information on differences between the Rules No 4, 2016 and the Rules No 1, 2017 Prostheses Lists.

You can view the details on the website here.

NSW Medical Devices Fund 

The Application Guidelines and Form are available on the NSW Health website

The Medical Devices Fund is a competitive technology development and commercialisation program that aims to:

• provide support to individuals, companies, public and private hospitals, medical research institutes, universities and the medical devices industry, to take local innovation to market; and
• increase the uptake of NSW medical devices by the health system where they are cost effective and contribute to improved patient outcomes.
  More than $35 million has been awarded to 20 outstanding new medical technologies since the Medical Devices Fund began in 2013. In the 2017-2018 financial year the Fund has over $8 million available.

Preliminary Applications will close on 3 April 2017.

Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund 

Minister for Health Jill Hennessy called for applications for the inaugural Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund, with two levels of funding available of up to $100,000 and $500,000.

The fund is part of the Victorian Government’s $20 million plan to ensure Victoria stays a world leader in ground-breaking health and medical research that has the power to change lives.

Applications for Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund are now open and close on 14 April 2017. For more information visit health.vic.gov.au/about/clinical-trials-and-research/health-and-medical-research

Funding Grants for Women's Leadership Development

Women & Leadership Australia (WLA) is administering a national initiative to support the development of female leaders across Australia’s health sector.

The initiative is providing women with grants for leadership development.

Courses are part-time and delivered nationally via WLA’s blended learning model.

Available Scholarships:

1. Aspiring talent and emerging women managers can apply for $3,000 part-scholarships to undertake the Accelerated Leadership Performance Program (18 week course)

2. Mid-level female managers and leaders can apply for $4,000 part-scholarships to undertake the Executive Ready Program (7 month course)

3. Senior management and executive level women leaders can apply for $8,000 part-scholarships to undertake the Advanced Leadership Program (12 month course).

Register your interest by completing the Expression of Interest form here prior to March 30, 2017

New Medical Device Development Postgraduate study

Sydney University has announced its new postgraduate courses (Master's degree, Graduate Diploma & Graduate Certificate) in Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Development.

MTAA was invited to participate in the Advisory Committee in the development of these courses.

The Digital Health Show

The Digital Health Show is a premier forum where those involved in clinical practice, management and infrastructure in hospitals, primary care and the entire health and aged care sectors can meet and explore the future of healthcare. It is a marketplace where they can sample the technologies and services that are impacting their profession. More importantly it is also a forum where policy, implementation, funding and security of data is debated. 

MTAA has negotiated a 10% discount off the registration price for Members – use code 'EMTAA1' to receive your discount. 

Bennelong Innovation Fair

 The Bennelong Innovation Fair will be held at the Great Hall in Parliament House, Canberra on March 27th 5:30-8:30pm.  The fair will feature a showcase of innovative techniques, products & solutions from Bennelong.

To RSVP for the event, please email john.alexander.mp@aph.gov.au by Friday March 10th