There had been no concern raised in relation to patient safety and the allegations were in relation to “the way in which medical equipment was to be used and put into our hospitals, and the … inducements” surrounding that, he said.
Nicholls said the charges were related to activities which stretched back to 2019 or 2020. A health sector source, granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter, said they understood the firm involved to be a smaller operator which may no longer be trading.
“We’re awaiting information about the names of those employees and who they are … we have not been informed by the CCC,” Health Minister Tim Nicholls said.Credit: Matt Dennien
Ian Burgess, chief executive of the Medical Technology Association of Australia – the industry’s peak body – told this masthead: “These are serious allegations that are appropriately before the courts”.
Given the ongoing investigation and lack of detail released by the corruption watchdog, Burgess said his organisation could not comment further, but had a code of practice developed with consumers and other community groups.
“Compliance with the code is mandatory for MTAA members and the code ensures that healthcare professionals and hospital officials are not influenced in their decision-making around the use of devices through financial or other inducements,” he said.
“Inducements of any kind are strictly against the code. MTAA calls for medical device manufacturers and suppliers that are not members of MTAA to be required to adhere to such a code of practice, by law or regulation.”
The health department has declined to comment on the matter. The corruption watchdog said it would not comment further while the matter was before the courts. The health ombudsman has also declined to comment, citing confidentiality provisions in its laws.
But an ombudsman spokesperson noted the office “conducts investigations into individual health practitioners where there may be evidence of professional misconduct or the practitioner poses a serious risk”.
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