Australians are waiting an average of 4.7 years to access life-saving medical technologies, as outdated and complex reimbursement systems delay the introduction of proven innovations into hospitals and clinics, a new report has revealed.
The Accelerating Access to Innovative Medical Technologies in Australia report, developed by HTAnalysts in collaboration with Edwards Lifesciences, warns that Australia’s conservative approach to approving and funding new medical devices is leaving patients behind while other countries move ahead. The report draws on insights from hospitals, clinicians, patient advocates, and representatives from the medical device and pharmaceutical sectors, including the Medical Technology Association of Australia and Pathology Technology of Australia.
Health Economist and Policy Strategist Associate Professor Colman Taylor from HTAnalysts said the findings highlight a growing inequity in patient care between Australia and comparable nations. “Australian patients are waiting far too long to access innovative medical technologies, which reduces efficiency and compromises health outcomes,” he said. “Reform is urgently needed to ensure all Australians can receive timely, life-saving treatments.”
According to the report, countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States typically approve new medical devices within one to two years. In contrast, Australia’s process can take nearly five years—more than double the time. This lag, experts warn, not only delays access to critical treatments but also discourages investment and innovation in the local health technology sector.
The report calls for urgent modernisation of Australia’s health technology assessment and reimbursement processes to align with international best practice. It recommends adopting faster, more flexible models that allow provisional access to new technologies while real-world data is collected, ensuring patients benefit sooner without compromising safety or efficacy.
Cardiothoracic Surgeon Professor Jayme Bennetts, Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Victoria Heart Hospital and Monash Health, said the consequences of these delays are particularly severe for patients with heart disease. “For patients living with severe aortic stenosis, waiting years can be the difference between life and death,” he said.
Each year, around 1,500 patients in Australia’s public hospital system miss out on potentially life-saving valve surgery and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures due to hospital capacity and funding constraints. Professor Bennetts said the situation is further complicated by disparities between the public and private systems. “Some new and advanced technologies not yet available in the private sector may see private patients offered inferior prostheses with potentially poorer long-term outcomes,” he said.
In some cases, private patients are referred to the public system to access newer technologies, adding further strain to already stretched public hospital resources. “We urgently need reforms to speed access to these proven technologies for all patients,” Professor Bennetts said. “Across comparable countries, patients are offered faster, provisional access to new medical technologies while evidence is still being gathered. These models have shown that prioritising early patient access and real-world data collection can help reduce delays.”
The report also highlights the human cost of Australia’s fragmented reimbursement system, which is deepening inequities in patient care. Public hospital patients may receive innovative treatments sooner but face long waiting periods due to capacity limits and funding restrictions. Meanwhile, privately insured patients—despite paying higher premiums—often wait longer because reimbursement decisions must be finalised before treatments can be covered.
These delays come amid ongoing disputes between federal and state governments over hospital and healthcare funding, further complicating access to new technologies. The report warns that without reform, Australia risks falling further behind global standards, with patients continuing to miss out on life-saving innovations already available overseas.
“The current processes are delaying innovations that could save lives today,” Professor Bennetts said. “We have the technology, the expertise, and the evidence. What’s missing is a system that keeps pace with medical progress.”
