Submission to TGA Consultation on Improved sharing of information about medical devices

The Collaborative welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the consultation on improved sharing of medical device information and proposed amendments relating to transparency of disruptions to supply of a medical device, forming part of the broader Action Plan for Medical Devices developed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The Collaborative represents a national coalition of multicultural-health advocates, consumers, carers and community organisations dedicated to improving health outcomes for multicultural Australians and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

This submission is informed by input from our multicultural network members and insights from our CALD communities. This submission addresses the consultation questions and provides targeted feedback across each strategy within the three-part Action Plan for Medical Devices.

The Australian population is one of the world’s most multiculturally diverse. Over half of Australians were either born overseas or have a parent born overseas, and more than 5.6 million people speak a language other than English at home. However, despite forming a major part of the population, the health outcomes of Australia’s multicultural communities remain disproportionately low, with access to services limited, and a severe lack of representation in research and data.

The Collaborative strongly supports the TGA’s consistent call for consumer consultations to account for all perspectives during the design and implementation of the Action Plan. From here, these perspectives must include those from Australian multicultural communities, where more meaningful representation across each of the plan’s strategies will support the TGA’s main priority – the safety of all Australians.