Australia’s Digital Health Crossroads: Key Insights from Industry Leaders MTAA and Cardihab
In a recent Health Industry Hub discussion hosted by Rozalina Sarkezians Health Industry Hub, Ian Burgess (CEO of Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) and Helen Souris (CEO and Exec Director of Cardihab) explored the findings of MTAA’s Digital Health Report and its implications for reform.
Both leaders highlighted the untapped potential of digital health technologies such as AI, remote patient monitoring, and digital therapeutics- to improve patient outcomes, equity of access, and system efficiency. However, Australia lags behind global leaders like Germany and France due to outdated funding mechanisms and a fragmented health system. While private insurers are adopting faster, public hospitals remain constrained by reimbursement gaps.
The report calls for urgent funding reform through fit-for-purpose Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and reimbursement pathways, enabling evidence requirements to include real-world evidence to support fast-moving innovations. Helen stressed the need to move beyond “pilotitis,” noting Cardiab’s proven success with multiple pilots, including the Medibank pilot that demonstrated 91% completion rates, a 71% reduction in hospital bed days and improved survival rates - yet systemic adoption remains limited.
Collaboration across Commonwealth, states, and industry is essential. MTAA recommends establishing a national remote care coordination body to bridge gaps between hospital discharge and community care.
The report outlines a three-phase roadmap:
Year 1: Create the coordination body, targeted grants, and a digital health library.
Years 2–3: Develop sector-specific funding pathways.
Years 3–5: Implement permanent funding mechanisms and system integration.
Digital health is not a trend—it’s a strategic enabler for equity, efficiency, and workforce sustainability. The evidence is clear: these technologies save lives and reduce costs. The question is—will Australia act now or wait for another crisis?
Download the full Report: https://lnkd.in/g3rfPhF2
Listen to the full Health Industry Hub podcast: https://lnkd.in/eui5grBS
Contact Cardihab for more details