Posted in Industry News

The TGA is calling for comments on behalf of the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF). 

The original consultation in 2019 asked for feedback on Cybersecurity of Medical Devices. This year, the consultation will focus specifically on legacy medical devices and the security issues faced, as technology advances during the Total Product Life Cycle (TPLC).

"As medical devices become more connected, there is the potential to impact patient safety. This is evident as cybersecurity incidents have rendered medical devices and hospital networks inoperable, disrupting the delivery of patient care across healthcare facilities worldwide.

The purpose of the draft framework is to promote a globally harmonized approach to medical device cybersecurity that at a fundamental level ensures the safety and performance of medical devices while encouraging innovation. The framework is intended to provide medical device cybersecurity guidance for stakeholders across the device lifecycle." Medical Device Cybersecurity Guide Working Group, IMDRF.

Your input is requested

The consultation opened on 4 May 2022 and closes on 3 July 2022. Please click the button below to read the draft document 'Principles and Practices for the Cybersecurity of Legacy Medical Devices' and provide your feedback. 

ADIA Jobs Board Updated

I'm pleased to see a solid take-up of the new ADIA Jobs Board over the last two weeks. We now have some quality roles posted online as we begin the campaign to attract candidates. Job posts will continue to be available free of charge to members until 30 June.

Post your roles by clicking the banner above. 

ADIA launches dental industry-focused job board

We are pleased to report the ADIA Jobs Board is now live and available for position postings.

Requested by our members, the site has been 18 months in the making. After extensive research, we have invested in the best platform for the requirement, and following consultation with various members, built the site with your needs in mind.

The ADIA Jobs Board will be accessible to candidates via search engine optimisation, the ADIA homepage, targeted social media advertising, and dedicated eDM communications to be shared with your networks. This approach will attract qualified candidates from both within and beyond the dental industry.

Post your jobs free of charge on the ADIA Jobs Board

The most important step to success for the project is to ensure the site is well-populated with quality roles when candidates begin to visit. It is for this reason, we invite you, our members to enjoy free unlimited job postings until 30 June.

To get started:

- Go to jobs.adia.org.au and click Post a Job

- Create an account for your company and set up a company profile

- Follow the prompts to post a job

One of the key features of the site is the ability for candidates to sign up for alerts for specific companies. Provided you spend time on your company profile and continue to post quality roles, candidates who wish to work with you will be directed to your positions as they become available by opt-in alerts.

We look forward to your support of the launch of the ADIA Jobs Board to ensure we have the roles available to attract quality candidates to your business.

As the ADIA Head Office begins preparations for ADX Brisbane in earnest, I would like to draw your attention to the feedback we have received for ADX Sydney, held last month.

Both exhibitors and visitors were surveyed. This feedback helps us to improve events like ADX to ensure we are providing our members with the best business opportunities in the Australian market.

We had some great feedback on new initiatives over the last few years. There were also suggestions for improvement to both exhibitor and visitor experiences, which we have included in our planning for ADX Brisbane.

Exhibitor feedback

The feedback from exhibitors was overwhelmingly positive following ADX Sydney. Many cited the high volume of attendees, the general atmosphere on the exhibition floor, and the opportunity to once again meet face to face with clients and colleagues as highlights of the event.

Exhibitors have suggested changing the Thursday show hours, more set-up time, and colour-coded badges as areas of improvement for the event.

Visitor feedback

Visitors at ADX Sydney cited the quality of exhibitors, exhibition layout, the opportunity to meet face to face with suppliers, and expert CPD sessions as the top highlights of the show. Show atmosphere, free childcare, great deals, and giveaways also rated highly.

The attendance at ADX Sydney was quite evenly spread across each show day, with almost half of visitors staying for four hours or more.

Visitors suggested healthier food options as an area for improvement at the event

Changes to look out for at ADX Brisbane

Following feedback, we are reviewing the opening hours for Thursday. Attendees at ADX Brisbane will also notice colour-coded name badges to help differentiate between exhibitors and visitors. We are working with the venue to ensure there is a greater variety of food options on offer.

The round one booth ballot is now closed. The numbers are very encouraging with just under 100 companies taking the first 273 booths. If you would like to exhibit at ADX Brisbane and have not been in touch yet, now is the time. Please contact Jan Van Dyk to secure your place.

If you are interested in Sponsorship opportunities at the event, please contact Nikki Kelso.

Two weeks ago I outlined ADIA's focus on oral health in aged care for the coming year. As part of the Australian Oral Health Collaboration (AOHC), ADIA is working with both sides of politics to ensure the expanded scope of care in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) includes oral health.

Along with this, we are working to increase awareness of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS). The CDBS is a well-funded, underutilised federal program, providing eligible children in Australia with part or the full cost of basic dental care services.

Child Dental Benefits Schedule at a Glance

• The CDBS covers part of, or the full cost of basic dental services for eligible children in Australia.
• Eligibility is based on receiving at least one payment from select Services Australia entitlements per year.
• The CDBS is available to eligible children aged 0-17 years.
• Participants can claim up to $1026 for treatment within a 2-year calendar period.
• The CDBS has an annual budget of $1.4 billion.
• More than three million children in Australia are eligible for the CDBS.

Currently, only 39% of the annual allocated budget for the CDBS is being spent. With more than three million children eligible for the CDBS and approximately $854 million going unused each year, there is a real opportunity to make a measurable difference to the health of children in Australia at no additional cost to the public.

ADIA has been in discussion with various MPs since October last year regarding the unused budget. The Association is appealing to Government to allocate a small portion of these funds to an awareness campaign.

Increased awareness of the CDBS among parents will mean the program has the potential to reach and treat a further 1.8 million eligible children in Australia biennially.

We expect to continue dialogue with both sides of politics regarding the CDBS so we are well placed to assist with improvements to the program following the election.

I would like to thank Board member, Alex Abrahams for his dedication to the cause, assistance in background research, and communication with Members of Parliament.

Work on the Child Dental Benefits Schedule and oral health in aged care are just some of the ways we are working to uphold the ADIA vision of an industry that empowers oral health professionals to advance the health and well-being of all Australians.

In late March, the Minamata Convention on Mercury had its fourth Conference of the Parties (COP4) in Bali, Indonesia. This was the first COP since Australia ratified the Convention late last year. The meeting mapped out additional annex inclusions for phase-down and/or phase-out items containing mercury. There were several items of interest and I encourage you to read the Report to Stakeholders to get an understanding of the kinds of changes on the horizon.

Of particular interest are the Annex A Part II changes relating to dental amalgam. You can read about the latest proposed phase-down measures at the bottom of this email. You can also read Annex A Part II (Dental Amalgam) in its entirety here.

It is important to note, as of 7 March 2022, Australia is now bound by the decisions of the Convention.

What is the Minamata Convention on Mercury?

The Minamata Convention on Mercury was adopted in October 2013 and has the objective of protecting human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.

Australia ratified the Minamata Convention on 7 December 2021 and is legally bound to both the treaty obligations and decisions of the COP.

The Convention entered into force for Australia on 7 March 2022.

Changes to the use of Mercury in Dentistry
(Annex A Part II Dental Amalgam)

Additional phase-down actions (by 2025) for dental amalgam:

- exclude or not allow, by taking measures as appropriate, the use of mercury in bulk form by dental practitioners; and

- exclude or not allow, by taking measures as appropriate, or recommend against the use of dental amalgam for the dental treatment of deciduous teeth, of patients under 15 years, and of pregnant and breastfeeding women, except when considered necessary by the dental practitioner based on the needs of the patient.

Quick Links

The Minamata Convention on Mercury

The Minamata Convention on Mercury text including Annex A Part II

The Minamata Convention on Mercury COP4 Report to Stakeholders