Managing medical technology in Australia's health care systems - planning, prioritisation and procurement

The management of medical technology raises a range of complex issues including those associated with planning, prioritisation, and procurement. In Australia there is a significant and developing interest at National, State, and Hospital levels in issues relating to the effective management of medical technology, with drivers including service planning & cost management, access & equity, and factors associated with the ongoing use of old equipment. Surveys undertaken by the authors and reported elsewhere have now been used to develop a 5 year equipment replacement and procurement model to predict required funding levels. Survey data is also used to assist in the prioritisation of equipment and to identify centralised purchasing opportunities. The data also provides metrics to record the effectiveness of funding programs.