New Report: The Case for Better Health Through Digital Technology

11 December 2018

A new report on Australia’s digital health sector details how healthcare consumers can benefit from world-leading technologies – and how Australia can create a fully-fledged digital health industry.

“Digital Health: Creating a New Growth Industry for Australia,” released today by digital health business accelerator ANDHealth, explores the strengths, opportunities, constraints and barriers to the commercialisation of evidence-based digital health technologies in Australia.

ANDHealth CEO Bronwyn Le Grice says a key finding from the report is that Australia is ready to take the next step in creating a cohesive and collaborative digital health industry.

“Australia is considered a global leader in health and medical research. We’re also early adopters of new technology and have an abundance of innovative ideas,” Ms Le Grice says.

“These are the key ingredients needed to nurture commercially viable and resilient fast-growth companies in emerging sectors, like digital health.

“However, in order to succeed, there needs to be widespread understanding that the digital health sector goes beyond health information technology and infrastructure, and that digital health is not a subset of the medical devices sector.

“Our report makes the case that Australia has the opportunity right now to develop an internationally competitive digital health industry which would complement and leverage our traditionally strong biopharmaceutical and medical device sectors.”

The ANDHealth report was prepared in collaboration with industry partners including CSIRO, the Australian Digital Health Agency and MTPConnect, the growth centre for the MedTech and Pharma sector.

MTPConnect CEO Dr Dan Grant says the new report is set to influence the direction of the future of the Australian digital health environment.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that a fully-fledged Australian digital health industry can be a key driver of both health and economic outcomes for Australia,” Dr Grant says.

“ANDHealth’s report makes it clear that with the right incentives in place, improved access to capital and development of adaptive regulatory frameworks, we can realise our potential as a global digital health leader.”

To download the report, click here.