Digital health CRC

THE Federal Government has approved funding for a new Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC) promising to save the Australian health system $1.8b and create at least 1,000 new jobs in the digital health sector.

Participants in the CRC include 40 commercial and government organisations operating across the health, aged care and disability sectors; 24 established and start-up technology, advisory and investment companies; and 16 Australian universities, with the initiative to be supported by both the Australian Digital Health Agency and the Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals industry growth centre (MTP Connect).

The Digital Health CRC will have at least $111m in cash funding and $118m of in-kind funding to invest over its seven-year term.

The DHCRC member organisations will develop and test digital health solutions for “real patients in real hospitals and health services,” as well as aiming to equip Australians to better manage their own health.

The venture seeks to create a “new digital workforce” and build the technology capacity of both clinicians and consumers.

A key focus of the DHCRC will be to reduce adverse drug reactions which are responsible for more than 400,000 GP visits a year and for 30% of elderly emergency hospital admissions.

“We believe that half the cost is avoidable,” said the organisation’s ceo-designate David Jonas.