PTA Review - February 2024

Welcome to this 2024, New Year edition of our Review.??

We’re focusing on our upcoming PTA-Congress/24. This unique healthcare forum will pull together a broad range of stakeholders to discuss and seek solutions to three big challenges in healthcare. Australian and global experts will be asking: How can innovative pathology technology transform our healthcare system to be more predictive, preventative and personalised???

You can read more about the Congress in this edition or go to www.ptacongress.com to learn more and register.?

We are also engaging in a broad-reaching patient advocacy program speaking to the diagnostic tools that empower patients and clinicians with the knowledge they need to improve their quality of life.??

If we are to move to a more sustainable healthcare service that delivers better patient outcomes at a lower total cost, we need to work together to effect change. PTA-C/24 dives into three main themes which are explored in this newsletter. Click here to read in full and make sure you register to hear directly from the experts at the congress, Sydney, March 11-13

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Access and Equity – healthcare and the postcode lottery?

On average, Australians living in rural and remote areas have shorter lives, higher levels of disease, and poorer access to and use of health services… How can this be an acceptable outcome today in such an advanced economy as Australia’s? Dive into our newsletter to explore how technology can support some key initiatives to redress this imbalance.??

Dr Robert Grenfell is discussing his experience bringing innovative systems to improve equity in regional settings at the PTA Congress in Sydney, 11 to 13th March. PTA Congress??

Following will be a panel discussion, “Does technology hold the answer to our healthcare inequity crisis?” chaired by Dr. Anrew St John and includes Prof Philip Cunningham, A/Prof Fei Sim, Dr. Charlotte Hespe, Senator Anne Ruston, and Mr. Ray Kelly.??

Register now to be part of an interactive audience participation program planned for this congress (www.ptacongress.com).?

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The Technology Revolution – have Australians been left behind??

Australia has one of the world’s best healthcare systems, partly due to the 1984 introduction of Medicare. However, growing GP waiting lists, ambulance ramping, and public hospital crowding are obvious signs that this system is not entirely healthy. Pressure grows when we combine our aging population and the increasing incidence of chronic disease.?

There are examples of comparable economies that have commenced their journey to more, predictive, preventative and personalised healthcare. The innovative diagnostic tests, technology and digital health enablers are now available to commence this transition.??

Professor Patrick Tan leads the Genome Institute of Singapore and Precision Health Singapore (PRECISE) and will present a plenary lecture at the PTA Congress, Sydney this 11 to 13th March.?

Read more in the full newsletter and come along to PTA-C/24 to hear Prof Patrick Tan followed by a panel discussion which includes Prof David Thomas, Dr. Kym Mina, Dr. Neil Everest, Prof Stephen Fox, and Dr. Jane Tiller www.ptacongress.com

Technology addressing global challenges?

Antibiotic resistance. Climate change. Geopolitical instability. Biosecurity. Each of these issues alone poses a serious threat to our health security. How do we comprehensively address the combination of these threats overlaying an aging population with an ,increased burden of chronic health conditions? Read more in the full newsletter and register for PTA-C to hear Dr Amandeep Hansra’s plenary lecture on the technology opportunities available now and what’s coming down the pipeline. Followed by an expert panel including Prof Louise Cullen, Prof Branwen Morgan, A/Prof Colman Taylor, Ms Deidre Mackechnie, Ms Jo Taranto, and Mr Martin Canova.?

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Hypothetical: "To invest or keep the status quo: why do we need diagnostics technology, sovereign capability and resilience?"?

How do we ensure health security for all Australians??

It's 2045, and a mysterious set of symptoms are appearing in the population of Far North Queensland, and it’s starting to spread! What will our panel of experts do??

We are staging a very special hypothetical debate at PTA-C, Sydney March 12th - exploring Australia's sovereign capability and supply chain resilience in response to what appears to be a climate-induced health threat.?

Delegates will be asked to join the debate, expertly narrated by Sue MacLeman, as she guides two teams of experts through an exciting hypothetical scenario. Each twist in the tale will test the limits of our healthcare system. Will we fall short? Or do we have the answers to secure the health of all Australians??

Read more about this special event here, and make sure you register for the congress to be part of the conversation! ?

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HTA Review – the UK experience with Dr Sam Roberts, Head of NICE?

Dr Sam Roberts, the Head of NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) in the UK, speaks to the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) changes in her region. Read more in the newsletter and watch Dr Robert’s video statement, and learn why she sees an urgent need to reform the HTA process in multiple ways.?

Link to video.??