Future Challenges

The rapid pace of change means that most of our diagnostic and treatment systems are either changed or significantly altered every 10–15 years. The change in the technology of organ imaging is a very good example. In 30 years we’ve seen the developments where we had plain x-rays with limited contrast medium to the use of radio-nuclear scans, ultrasound, cat scans, MRIs and PET scans. We now have the prospect of new and complex applications for all of these modalities. Similarly, drugs for vascular disease and cancer treatment have rapidly developed into highly specific and sophisticated therapies. This creates a real challenge for all of us to remain active rather than reactive so that we can ensure that the best treatment is available to the Australian public, while simultaneously ensuring that the advances are ‘real’, safe and affordable.

Infectious diseases continue as a potential threat and a major focus of concern to the Australian health system. The recent outbreaks of Nipah Virus in India and Bangladesh; the re-emergence of the drug resistant tuberculosis and the potential for the development of a new hitherto unknown infectious disease require us to remain constantly aware of these issues.