598 - Behind the Scenes of Medical Software in Australia: MSIA’s Role and Priorities

In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch sits down with Emma Hossack, CEO of the Medical Software Industry Association (MSIA), to unpack the often overlooked role of software in keeping Australia’s healthcare system running.The conversation explores how MSIA represents and supports the organisations building the digital infrastructure behind everyday care, and why their work is more critical than most people realise.Peter and Emma dive into the origins and purpose of MSIA, its growing influence on health software policy, and how it is helping shape the governance of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.They also discuss the increasing weight of regulation, the tension between compliance and innovation, and the funding challenges facing local software providers.The discussion offers a practical look at the people and systems working behind the scenes, and why stronger collaboration between government, industry, and clinicians will be essential for the future of digital health in Australia.Key Takeaways💡 Over 95% of Australian healthcare operates on MSIA member platforms, making their work foundational to the sector.🔗 MSIA acts as a bridge between industry and government, shaping and supporting health software policy and regulation.🧑‍💻 Artificial intelligence in health tech is a major focus, with MSIA developing a voluntary code for unregulated products and leading industry-wide collaboration on AI governance.📊 Regulatory compliance demands have increased significantly, with some software providers now spending up to 80% of their effort on meeting these requirements.🤝 MSIA facilitates collaboration, networking, and knowledge sharing through events, monthly member sessions, matchmaking, and support for overcoming industry roadblocks.Timestamps00:01 — Introduction to MSIA04:00 — Industry impact and membership07:00 — COVID-19 response and digital prescribing12:41 — AI in healthcare and MSIA’s voluntary code19:40 — Regulation vs. innovation in development26:11 — Funding, training, and recent challenges38:37 — Upcoming priorities and activitiesLinks and Resources:The MSIA Voluntary Guide on responsible use of AI - Read More HereThe MSIA 2025 Productivity Brief to Government - Access Here--------Want to keep the conversation going?The full article and extended show notes for this episode are available inside the THT+ Community here: View Full ArticleIn the THT+ Community, our members keep the discussion going, share perspectives, and unpack what this episode actually means in practice with other people working in healthtech.If you’re enjoying the show and want access to full articles, episode discussions, meetups, and member-only content, you can learn more about becoming a THT+ Solo Member here: talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus.And if this episode was useful, leaving a review or sharing it with someone in the industry always helps.Mentioned in this episode:THT+ Digital Health Career ToolkitExplore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.THT+ Digital Health Career ToolkitExplore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.THT+ Digital Health Career ToolkitExplore the free THT+ Digital Health Career Toolkit, a five-day email series to help you clarify where you fit in digital health and take your next step: talkinghealth.tech/toolkit.