HSV builds engagement with health sector suppliers

HealthShare Victoria is building on its health sector engagement with a presentation by Chief Procurement Officer Sarah Bryant at the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Alliance’s 2026 Medtech Showcase in early May, following on from our presentation in 2025.

Bringing together health sector leaders, clinicians, procurement professionals and the Australian medtech sector, the event continues the conversation about strengthening the links between health services and local manufacturing to drive better patient care.

Exploring the evolution of Australia’s health purchasing systems and the role of technology in improving system performance, Monash Health Chief Research and Innovation Officer Professor Euan Wallace AM and Monash University Vice Chancellor’s Professorial Fellow Professor Ian Meredith AM asserted that health systems are intentional and a product of the choices we make – what we buy and how we innovate as well as the tools that enable the system.

While the choices we make affect both health services and suppliers, Sarah shared her vision for HSV procurement in helping to ‘design the system we want’, reinforcing our message of collaboration to build stronger supplier relationships. Our work to improve health system data and establish a dedicated supplier relationship management function will support better outcomes. 

“HSV is on a pathway to move from traditional procurement and category leadership to a future defined by digital tools and AI,” Sarah says.

“In making use of evolving digital innovation, we want to build on our procurement maturity and enable a contemporary approach that will position us to manage and lead across supplier tiers and ecosystems.

“A holistic procurement system will position us to mitigate supply shocks before they occur, unlock emerging innovation across the supply chain and increase stakeholder collaboration in an era of rapid change,” she says.

This approach aligns with HSV’s broader objectives to become a trusted business partner to Victoria’s public health sector, deliver best value statewide agreements and safeguard supply.

Sarah highlighted that stronger partnerships will also help progress HSV’s ESG (environmental, social and governance) objectives.

“While our role is to operate at scale and work to benefit our health service customers, we recognise that local suppliers are critically important to health services, especially in regional and rural Victoria. Engaging with the local medtech community is a great first step in exploring practical ways to turn innovation into real-world adoption.”

The program finished with a series of fast-paced lightning pitches – short presentations providing a rapid overview of local innovations, capabilities and manufacturing expertise across Australia's medtech sector. Pitches highlighted variations in product development and maturity, with some already well-established in the health sector and others at the beginning of their development journey.

The Showcase’s curated exhibition of Australian medtech companies, attended by HSV’s Clinical Product team, provided further opportunities for the HSV team to engage.

HSV Clinical Product Advisor Tom McMorrow heard from exhibiting Australian medtech companies and saw locally designed and manufactured technologies that support high-quality healthcare.

“Having the opportunity to meet and speak with local medtech manufacturers helps us to understand what innovations are emerging and the possibilities for improving patient outcomes, strengthening supply chains and delivering greater value for Victoria’s health system,” says Tom.

The showcase is an initiative of the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Alliance, delivered in partnership with MTPConnect and the BioMelbourne Network.

 

Image above (L to R): Monash University Professorial Fellow Professor Ian Meredith AM, HSV Chief Procurement Officer Sarah Bryant, Monash Health Chief Research and Innovation Officer Professor Euan Wallace AM, MTPConnect CEO and MD Stuart Dignam.

Image courtesy MTPConnect.