Insights Digital Health at Victorian Healthcare Week

Diginostic had the privilege of attending Victorian Healthcare Week 2024, where we gained new perspectives on the future of digital health in Australia. The event highlighted the transformative potential of technology in our healthcare system, with key discussions around digital equity, cybersecurity, and enhancing patient care through innovation.

While all sessions offered valuable insights, two moments truly shaped my experience: the Hon. Mark Butler's (Minister for Health and Aged Care, Parliament of Australia) opening keynote and Dr. John Lambert's (Chief Clinical Information Officer, NT Health) thought-provoking ideas on designing for digital inclusion. 

Minister Butler’s keynote was a standout for its scope and ambition. The Federal government’s commitment to modernising My Health Record, backed by almost $1.1 billion in investment, signals a profound shift in how we manage and share health information.

The focus on creating a unified, interoperable system is critical in addressing the fragmentation that has long hindered effective patient care. This is more than just an upgrade—it's about creating a healthcare ecosystem where digital tools aren't just optional but foundational to improving care outcomes, with patient’s access and agency to their health data being at the forefront.

For industry leaders, the Minister’s call to collaborate with clinicians and software providers is a clear directive. We must work together to ensure that these technologies are adopted and optimised to serve patients, reduce administrative burdens, and ultimately build a healthcare system that is ready for the future. 

“Patients now desire and deserve access to their own health data, and agency over how it is used and how it is shared. Digital health technology should empower patients to monitor and take charge of their health and wellbeing, so they can interact confidently with healthcare providers and build their own health literacy.”


– Hon. Mark Butler 

Dr. John Lambert's insights during the "Securing the Future of Digital Health" thinktank left a lasting impression on us. His emphasis on designing systems that cater to the minority, not just the majority, was eye-opening. As Dr. Lambert pointed out, many digital solutions are built with a one-size-fits-all approach, inadvertently leaving behind vulnerable populations, especially in rural and remote areas. His idea of designing for the exceptions, such as communities with limited access to technology or shared device usage, highlighted the importance of inclusion in healthcare. Dr Lambert’s message was clear: if our systems don’t work for everyone, they don’t work at all. For those of us working in the digital space, this is a critical reminder to embed inclusivity at the heart of our innovations.

As Dr John Lambert expressed, paraphrased, “I'm tired of hearing that a solution works for 95% or 99% of the population, as 1% still represents a quarter of a million people. Are we happy with that? Clinicians can't simply refuse to treat 1% of the patients who need care, yet they are often expected to rely on tools that only work for 95% of cases.” 

As digital health continues to evolve, it’s clear that integration and collaboration between the public and private sectors will be crucial. Whether it’s enhancing cybersecurity, reducing digital inequity, or advancing patient-centred technologies, we all have a role to play. The conversations at Victorian Healthcare Week were inspiring, but they also served as a reminder that there is much work to be done. We left the conference feeling committed to ensuring that digital health solutions are not just innovative, but equitable and accessible to all Australians. All patients and clinicians need to be at the centre of the solutions we design in the digital health space.