Adelaide, South Australia wants to let the secret out, and be known as hub for medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and digital health. It boasts world-class research institutions, such as the University of Adelaide and SAHMRI, fostering innovation and collaboration. The city’s supportive government policies provide incentives, grants, and streamlined regulations for businesses. Adelaide’s skilled workforce, renowned for its expertise in health sciences, offers a talent pool to drive industry growth. Additionally, the city’s strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and strong healthcare ecosystem make it an ideal base for development, manufacturing, and market access, attracting companies in these sectors.
Australian Health Journal spoke to Jo Close, heading the Adelaide arm of MTPConnect about the opportunity its building through its role as the industry growth centre, to help increase commercialisation and collaboration across the sector, optimise the regulatory environment, improving workforce skills and access to markets globally.
One of the companies showing world leading MedTech capabilities arising from Adelaide is Additive Surgical, the first company in Australia to manufacture 3D Printed Titanium novel spinal implant technologies. Its mission is to manufacture the highest quality medical technology in Australia that positively impact the lives of people globally.
Australian Health Journal met with Co-founder and CEO Gibran Maher.
Maher states, “Additive Surgical is committed to supporting Australian innovation and works closely with the Australian clinicians, hospitals, research institutions and universities to innovate and manufacture locally.”
Maher points out the ability to compete is made possible through supportive collaboration with government, research and other enterprises seeking to learn from each other. But to truely compete in international markets, Australia’s needs to further strengthen its sovereign capability.
Currently Australia imports more than 80% of its medical devices. Large multinational companies have very strong market share in Australia and the profits from these companies are largely returned to their international shareholders.
Additive Surgical is committed to manufacturing in Australia, developing intellectual property in Australia and supporting Australian innovation and commercialisation.
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Australasian College of Paramedicine makes case for multi-disciplinary care
Despite being seen primarily as emergency responders, paramedics have long been providing care in the primary care space. As such, their increased involvement in primary and urgent care is a natural progression that can lead to improved health outcomes for communities. Urgent care clinics, which treat non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses, have been a recent introduction. However, when these clinics were initially proposed, paramedics were left out of the opportunity, despite being experts in urgent, acute, unplanned, and unscheduled care. They work in these types of situations every day in the ambulance service and should be utilised in these clinics to improve patient outcomes. Working as part of multidisciplinary teams with doctors and nurses can further enhance the outcomes for local communities.
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SAHMRI Celebrates 10 Years of Research
SAHMRI represents an exciting and unique statewide concept, bringing together basic and translational research, South Australia’s three universities and the health system. SAHMRI works in collaboration with its partners to provide a clear focal point for health and medical research, including paving the way for new partnerships, innovative research projects and improved health outcomes.
Executive Director, Professor Maria Makrides spoke to Australian Health Journal about 3 achievements in the past 10 years that have had significant impact
International leadership breakthroughs in leukaemia research
Culturally appropriate Indigenous health research and clinical care
Omega 3 fatty acids as a preterm birth prevention -
Clinical entrepreneur addresses needle-phobia
Australian entrepreneur, Lauren Barber, turned her nursing background into the role of an inventor and launched a medical device into the Australian healthcare industry.
No journey is linear for an entrepreneur, but Lauren has travelled considerable distance from a nursing student to a successful entrepreneur illustration her determination and passion to help those with needle phobias. Lauren’s work with NeedleCalm is making a positive impact in the healthcare industry and improving the experiences of patients and clinicians alike.
