MTAA Welcomes Next Phase of 'National One Stop Shop'

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The Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) has welcomed the completion of the first phase of the ‘National One Stop Shop’ and the ‘National Clinical Trials Front Door’ reforms.

The goal of these reforms is to make it easier for patients, researchers, industry representatives and sponsors to find, conduct, participate and invest in high-quality and ethical research in Australia.

MTAA CEO, Ian Burgess, said the industry was looking forward to continuing to engage with the consultation process through the Research and Development Task Force in partnership with other key stakeholders including Medicines Australia and AusBiotech.

“The MedTech industry are keen supporters of the Government’s plans to eliminate long-standing challenges such as duplications, delays, navigation and fragmentation as a result of a number of obstacles including different research ethical and local site authorisation systems in various jurisdictions,” Mr Burgess said.

For Australia to continue to attract the level of clinical trial activity that it has achieved over the past two decades, it is important that strategies are implemented to enhance the clinical trial environment in Australia including:

• Reliable, predictable, unified and rapid Site Research Governance
• A single streamlined ethical review for all studies, irrespective of whether they are conducted in private or public setting and irrespective of phase of study
• Consistent approaches by States and Territories to support the efficient and cost-effective conduct of studies
• Establishing an Australian Coordinating Body for Clinical Trials would provide an entity that has the mandate and resources to drive the change needed to improve Australia’s global competitiveness in attracting clinical trials.
• Supportive and efficient regulatory pathway to transition to commercialisation and reimbursement.

“It is important, now more than ever, that we do everything we can to ensure the benefits of modern, innovative and reliable medical technology as delivered effectively to provide better health outcomes to the Australian community.”