MTAA welcomes Government’s commitment to health funding

Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA), the peak industry body for medical technology has congratulated the Government and Health Minister for the commitments in the Budget handed down tonight.

MTAA welcomes the announcement tonight that $45.5 million will be spent on radiation therapy for regional Australia, something the medical technology industry has campaigned hard for.

Additionally, MTAA welcomes ongoing funding for Australia’s health and medical research sector, with $5 billion invested in the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) over 10 years to complement $3.5 billion for the National Health and Medical Research Council and $0.5 billion for the Biotechnology Translation Fund.

MTAA aims to ensure the benefits of modern, innovative and reliable medical technology are delivered effectively to provide better health outcomes to the Australian community.

The medical devices industry is committed to making a positive difference to the lives of the millions of Australians who benefit from medical technology every day.

MTAA welcomes the Government’s Budget commitment to:

• $6 billion increase in funding for Medicare over the forward estimates
• Increase in hospital funding over the forward estimates by $5 billion
• Funding continued for information campaign on private health insurance reforms
• $1.25 billion for Community Health and Hospitals Program to tackle service gaps including hospital infrastructure.
• $1.1 billion for primary care including $449 million funding for general practitioners to provide flexible care (including telehealth) to patients over 70
• Further funding for diagnostic Imaging including:
  • Increase to the Medicare rebate for diagnostic radiology and ultrasounds ($199 million) from 1 Jul 2020
  • 23 new MRI licences
  • $32.6 million for breast cancer MRI and PET scans
• $7.2 million to make fees for specialists more transparent
• Funding for Cardiac, Breast Device and Hip Fracture registries
• Funding for two new products for the Stoma Appliance Scheme
• Expanding eligibility of the Continuous Glucose Monitoring program to new population with congenital condition under 21 years of age
• $70.8 million to support Australians fighting cancer including the $45.5 million for new regional cancer treatment centres to provide radiation therapy
• Continued funding of the National Health Funding Body to implement the National Health Reform Agreement
• $7 million for the Mind Gardens Alliance to establish a brain disorders clinic in Sydney
• A new Health and Medical Research Office to oversee the MRFF
• $10 million for funding of research into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

Ian Burgess, Chief Executive Officer of the Medical Technology Association of Australia said:

“MTAA congratulates the Government and the Minister for Health in the budget handed down tonight.

“The announcement that $45.5 million will be spent on radiation therapy for regional Australia is especially welcome and is something the sector has been calling for.

“We also welcome the Government’s ongoing commitment to Australia’s health and medical research sector through the Medical Research Future Fund.

“The medical technology industry welcomes the Government’s commitment to healthcare in Australia and we look forward to continuing to contribute to helping people live longer, healthier and more productive lives.”

ENDS

Rachel Fry | 0417 887 432 | rfry@mtaa.org.au