Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre partners with HSV to future proof radiotherapy equipment

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre will be able to replace its fleet of radiotherapy systems more easily and cost effectively after partnering with HSV’s Equipment Sourcing team on the purchase of a replacement linear particle accelerator for its Moorabbin campus.

The HSV team helped to procure the high specification machine, which will be installed in August, and locked in future purchases to replace another four machines between now and 2028.

A linear particle accelerator (LINAC) is used to deliver radiation therapy, a treatment that uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells. LINACs generally have a lifespan of around 10 years, after which they break down more regularly and incur more maintenance costs. Newer machines also have better technology enabling them to treat more patients per day than older machines.

With 16 LINACs across multiple campuses, Procurement Manager at Peter Mac Paul Smith says he was keen to streamline the process for future equipment purchases.

“We wanted to explore if it was possible to ensure a clear future purchasing path that would allow our fleet of systems to be replaced smoothly and effectively.

The team at HSV has done an excellent job in making this happen for us,” he says. 

“Treatment for patients will be improved because we now have a higher specification machine.

As well as saving on costs, it also saves us a procurement process that takes three to four months. Now it can be completed in around two weeks,” he says.

Peter Mac is the largest provider of radiotherapy treatment in metropolitan Melbourne and Australia’s only public hospital solely dedicated to cancer treatment, research and education.

In the financial year ending 30 June 2025, total expenditure coordinated by HSV’s Equipment Sourcing team on behalf of health services reached $46 million with 17 sourcing activities completed – a 64 per cent increase in spend since 2021. A further $17 million worth of equipment sourcing projects is currently in progress, due for completion in FY26.

Head of HSV’s Equipment Sourcing Program Mark Lennen says the partnership with Peter Mac is a great example of how HSV can help to secure equipment needs into the future, driving optimal commercial and qualitative outcomes for the health sector.

“We’re currently working on similar projects with several metropolitan and regional health services to secure both current needs and the future purchase of pathology equipment, PET-CT scanners and linear accelerators,” he says.

Additional major equipment sourcing projects currently underway and due to be completed in FY26 include LINACs, angiography systems, CT scanners, and mammography systems.

For more information about support for medical equipment procurement, please contact one of your HSV Customer Relationship Managers or the HSV Helpdesk at helpdesk@healthsharevic.org.au or phone 03 9947 3900.