The industry is booming, and we’re seeing a surge in the use of high-tech medical equipment in Australia.
The Australian Medical Association is calling for the medical device industry to be regulated more tightly and better managed.
The AMA says a major reason for this is the rise in high-speed internet and smartphone use.
“We have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people who are looking to access health services via the internet,” AMA president Andrew Gilligan told ABC Radio National’s Breakfast program.
“[It’s] a lot of people looking to connect with people who they don’t know, and then have the information they need to make the right decisions.”
Dr Gilligan said the rise of smartphones and the rise to high-end medical equipment have caused a boom in the production of medical equipment, and in the supply chain.
He said this has led to a shortage of doctors, which is leading to more deaths and hospitalisation.
This is because patients and staff have become more reliant on medical equipment manufacturers.
When doctors have a shortage, they are more likely to rely on those that supply them with equipment that’s manufactured in China.
Dr Gilligans group says there are several measures being taken to tackle this.
These include creating a ‘code of practice’ for the supply of medical devices, and establishing standards for quality assurance.
While the AMA is calling on the Government to regulate the medical equipment industry, it’s not calling for a blanket ban on medical devices.
But it is calling to create a national code of practice for medical devices and said this would help ensure that doctors are given more flexibility in how they work with patients.
ABC News contacted the Department of Health, but has not received a response.
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