The Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) has recently released its report ‘Digital Health: Breaking Barriers to Deliver Better Patient Outcomes.’

The report was launched at MedInfo 2023 in Sydney, aiming to identify opportunities for digital health uptake and barriers that need to be overcome. The report proposes practical policy solutions with an emphasis on current and emerging technologies.

Tunstall Managing Director and MTAA’s Connected Health Advisory Group (CHAG) Chair, Lyn Davies, said “There is growing evidence to support cost neutrality and cost effectiveness of digitally enabled services and programs for prevention and management of chronic disease. But still there is no broad-based comprehensive policy that facilitates equitable patient access and enables the healthcare and community care systems to join forces and modernise in a digital world. The full potential of technology and innovation can only be realised with transformation.”

Both Lyn Davies, and Kathryn O’Neill, Tunstall’s Head of Operations, worked closely with the University of Newcastle research team, providing their knowledge and experience in supplying digital health products in Australia and supporting clients with digital health programs.

Beyond this, Tunstall clients and services were featured at the conference presentation, highlighting first-hand what well-structured digital health initiatives could offer the wider population.

Digital health has a central role to play in tackling Australia’s many healthcare challenges. Technology-enabled solutions, including telehealth, electronic health records, wearable devices, mobile health applications, digital therapeutics and remote patient monitoring are increasingly being embedded in the healthcare system.

These provide an opportunity to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs by increasing the availability of relevant information, allowing better diagnosis with treatment and care being provided in the right time in the right place.

Crucial to any future success for digital health will be reimbursement pathways within current funding avenues, particularly Medicare. This will ensure that innovative and effective care is not only accessible but practical and sustainable.

Lyn Davies said “We have to keep advocating for change, continue the conversation and take action.  Our commitment is to keep the momentum going, keep spreading the message, involving the stakeholders and continue to help overcome the barriers to make real change into the future.”

https://www.mtaa.org.au/news/mtaa-releases-digital-health-report