The Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre says it’s ready to work on the next wave of health system reform.
Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre CEO Annette Schmiede said the new federal parliamentary term presents a vital opportunity.
“A new parliamentary term brings new opportunities for reform that will be crucial to improving health system efficiencies, supporting our stretched healthcare workforce and enhancing care delivery for Australians,” she said.
Prior to the election, the Centre outlined five key policy priorities needed to advance Australian digital health innovation to connect care, empower the health workforce, and improve health system and patient outcomes.
Included was having a national entity to enhance the growth and translation of an evidence base for the role of AI in healthcare.
The centre also called for investment in training and education to develop a digitally enabled healthcare workforce, a roadmap for the adoption of standardised aged care data across the aged care sector, development of National Digital Health Procurement Guidelines and increased R&D funding for digital health research partnerships.
“The DHCRC brings a unique perspective to how we better build and embed technology into the health ecosystem. With over 60 partners across universities, government, and industry, we are on the frontlines and see specific challenges and opportunities that we face as a sector,” Ms Schmiede said.
She congratulated the Mark Butler and Jason Clare on their reappointments to their respective health and education portfolios.
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“We look forward to working with them to empower the health workforce and improve health system and patient outcomes,” she said.
She thanked outgoing aged care minister Anika Wells for leading the way on reforming the aged care sector to enhance care delivery to elderly Australians, and congratulated Sam Rae on his appointment as the new minister for aged care and seniors.
“We look forward to working with Minister Rae on the establishment of a roadmap for the adoption of standardised aged care data across the aged care sector – a vital step to improve patient safety, foster care coordination, and ultimately reduce inefficiencies and costs across the aged care system,” Ms Schmiede said.
She also thanked the outgoing minister for industry and science Ed Husic for his consistent support of the DHCRC.
“The Strategic Examination of Research & Development, began by Minister Husic, and the National Health and Medical Research Strategy are two vital initiatives for Australia’s health and medical research and innovation sector that offer the opportunity for real reform to deliver a more strategically coordinated ecosystem that addresses national priorities and supports Australia to become a regional hub for health innovation,” Ms Schmiede said.