Australian Health Journal met with Commissioner Catherine de Fontenay from the Productivity Commission to discuss the key findings of new research papers, “Advances in Measuring Healthcare Productivity”, released in April and in May, the release of “Making the most of Technology in Healthcare”.
De Fontenay talks about the Commission’s new approach to analysing health productivity, shifting the perspective from the unit measurement of individuals using the health system to the actual improvement of health. This has shown Australia’s health treatment productivity is improving, but identifies gaps in preventative health measures and duplication, where digital technology needs to be more effectively used.
The “Advances in Measuring Healthcare Productivity” research paper emphasises the productivity of healthcare by examining the outcomes of health treatments, such as those for lung cancer, and exploring the possibility of lower-cost settings for treatment, such as home-based care. This approach resulted in a notable 3% increase in productivity annually, showing improved health outcomes and enhanced value for money.
While the research highlights the improving productivity of health treatments, it also emphasises the importance of addressing the factors leading to illness, particularly in light of Australia’s high rates of obesity and alcohol consumption. By tackling these issues, substantial reductions in healthcare costs can be achieved. The research also identifies digital technologies as a promising avenue for cost reduction in healthcare, particularly in minimising excess testing and delivering care in more cost-effective settings.
When accounting for health risks in the population, Australia ranks third among 28 comparable high-income countries in terms of healthcare value for money, indicating the country’s strong performance using this method of measurement.
The second research paper “Making the most of Technology in Healthcare”, underscores the detrimental impact of inadequate electronic medical records on patient care quality, citing preventable medication-related errors costing approximately $1.4 billion annually. Additionally, it emphasises the significance of effective electronic discharge processes from hospitals in reducing the risk of readmission.
The research has advocated for the effective utilisation of digital technologies, including electronic medical records, telehealth, remote care, and artificial intelligence, in the healthcare system. It highlights the potential of these technologies to significantly reduce costs, citing potential savings of about $5 billion for hospitals by reducing test duplication and expediting patient discharge.
Remote monitoring technologies can reduce complications for high-risk diabetes patients, but funding structures need to be improved to maximise their benefits. To that end, the research emphasises the potential of digital technologies to revolutionise the healthcare system, provided that effective utilisation and appropriate funding structures are in place.
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Improved treatment in advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma
A global clinical trial successfully reduced toxicity and side effects in advanced stage Hodgkin lymphoma patients by using a modified treatment regimen.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Professor Mark Hertzberg in his role in the ALLG HD10 Clinical Trial and as a former Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group (ALLG), an organisation involved in improving the treatments and lives of blood cancer patients.
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The role of genomic screening in transforming public health
Dr Jane Tiller is a lawyer, genetic counsellor and public health researcher. She is Ethical, Legal & Social Adviser in Public Health Genomics at Monash University, and a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant holder. Jane is passionate about the use of genomics to prevent disease, and in delivering equitable access to preventive genetic information at the population level. She is co-lead of DNA Screen, a world-first study piloting the offer of preventive DNA screening to the Australian adult population. DNA Screen has tested over 10,000 young people for genetic high risk of medically actionable conditions such as cancer and heart disease, finding about 2% of participants had genetic high risk. Jane is leading efforts to secure Commonwealth Government funding to expand the DNA Screen program, with the eventual goal of the development of a public health population screening program for disease prevention based on high genetic risk.
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Smarter investment in the research long game
In this Op-Ed, Nadia Levin, CEO of Research Australia, spoke with the Australian Health Journal about the need for smarter and more strategic investment in Australia’s health and medical research sector.
Levin argued that Australia’s approach to health and medical research has been shaped too heavily by short-term political cycles rather than a long-term national vision. She emphasised that meaningful progress in science, innovation, and healthcare requires sustained investment over many years.
