The ICT financial bonanza is expected to flow to the industry through the transformation of Australia’s healthcare sector as a result of the soon to be released recommendations from the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission (NHHRC).

According to IDC in a report released today, the potential of the NBN, combined with the upcoming recommendations from the NHHRC, will see ICT spending in Australia by the healthcare industry climb to around $2.4 billion by 2012.

IDC’s senior market analyst, vertical markets, Melissa Martin, said today the NBN would help bring e-health initiatives closer to the Australian people.

“In 2009, providers will see a new urgency in aligning services with national goals for efficiency, access and quality,” Martin said, advising that vendors should be prepared to “catch these healthcare initiatives at the beginning of this crest."

Martin said the NHHRC was developing a long-term health reform plan for a modern Australia, due mid this year, with a focus on health financing, maximising a productive relationship between public and private sectors and improving rural health.

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"The desired end-state for this sector is a fully integrated healthcare system that provides patients with a highly integrated and satisfying experience while facilitating improved management of the costs associated with providing this care.”
 
According to Martin, the future healthcare system will include a wide spectrum of potential service and application offerings including business-related tools such as HR systems, accounting systems, and CRM, patient care applications such as adverse drug tracking and e-prescribing offerings, and integrated applications that encompass both business and patient care capabilities such as the electronic health record (EHR).

In its report, IDC also says that the top business priorities in the health sector in 2009-2010 will include electronic procurement, electronic prescribing, healthcare portal, electronic reimbursement, computerised physician order entry systems, electronic patient records and electronic booking.
 
Overall, IDC says the Australian healthcare market is expected to increase moderately, with total investment in ICT increasing from $2,076 million in 2008 to $2,378 million by 2012, which will provide a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5% for the forecast period.

Martin says vendors need to understand the focus of care is shifting, and that e-health will change the way consumers interact with the healthcare system and health information.

“Now people are looking for the own health information and starting health dialogs on the internet. Soon some patients will be the gatekeepers of their own health records,” and, advises Martin,   providers should consider expanding their own online offerings on their websites or partnering with Health 2.0 vendors to offer portals and functionality to their patients.