The Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC) has presented five election priorities, putting digital health on the election agenda.
Health Minister Mark Butler and Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston yesterday made their election pitches at the Australian Financial Review Healthcare Summit, placing the future of health as a key battleground for the upcoming federal election.
The DHCRC has identified five critical policy reforms that are needed to advance Australian digital health innovation to connect care, empower the health workforce, and improve health system and patient outcomes.
“There are significant challenges and pressures facing the health sector, and digital technologies present an opportunity to improve efficiencies, support our stretched healthcare workforce and deliver better and more effective care to all Australians,” DHCRC CEO Annette Schmiede said.
“The DHCRC brings a unique perspective to how we better build and embed technology into the health ecosystem. With over 60 partners across universities, government, and industry, we are on the frontlines and see specific challenges and opportunities that we face as a sector.”
“It is essential that healthcare is prioritised as a core election issue, and we would like to see bipartisan support for the critical priorities we have presented that meet consumer and community expectations.”
DHCRC’s election priorities span aged care, AI, procurement, workforce, and research:
- A roadmap for the adoption of standardised aged care data across the aged care sector
- National entity to accelerate the growth and translation of the evidence-base for the role of AI in healthcare
- Investment in training and education to develop a digitally enabled healthcare workforce to enhance patient care and meet demand
- Development of National Digital Health Procurement Guidelines in partnership with government, health services, and industry
- Increased R&D funding for digital health research partnerships to advance innovation and health outcomes
Read full details on the DHCRC 2025 Election Priorities here.
