The Andrews Labor Government today released a new plan to create local jobs and grow the economy by selling innovation and expertise from Victoria’s world-class health system to international markets.
Victoria’s International Health Strategy 2016-2020: Partnering for a healthy and prosperous future outlines the Government’s vision to grow Victoria as a global exporter of goods and services in health, health education, aged care and health and medical research.
Victoria is a leader in health and medical research, as well as in the delivery of high quality health services and health education that are improving care and outcomes for patients.
This strategy will showcase Victoria’s achievements in health across the globe, while also generating revenue and creating new jobs in the health sector at home.
Victorian patients will benefit from health services that, with additional revenue, will have greater capacity to deliver the care they need, sooner.
The key three areas in the strategy are:
- Promoting Victoria’s health system to international markets by strengthening ties and new links
- Attracting and developing new sources of revenue for health services
- Encouraging collaborations for service delivery and research partnerships
The first step of the plan is the creation of four health industry networks to connect Victorian organisations to global markets with a high demand for their products. These networks include education and workforce, health system design and delivery, health and medical research and senior living and aged care.
The healthcare sector contributes more than $30 billion to the Victorian economy a year and employs more than 130,000 Victorians. The sector is now the largest and fastest growing source of jobs.
The International Health Strategy compliments the $20 million Healthier Lives, stronger economy: Victoria’s Health and Medical Research Strategy 2016-2020 released last week. This was the first time in 10 years that a health and medical research strategy has been developed for Victoria.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“We are getting on with creating jobs and growing the economy by better promoting Victoria’s first class health system to the world.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis
“Victoria is at its innovative best in medical research and technology. This strategy will provide further support to develop the right skills to make more great Victorian products to foreign markets.”
Quote attributable to Parliamentary Secretary for Medical Research Frank McGuire
“This policy establishes the platform for Victoria to lead nationally and internationally in a bigger and bolder way attracting both economic and healthcare opportunities to the state.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020