South Australians are invited to provide feedback on opportunities to grow our state’s health and medical industries sector, as part of the Marshall Liberal Government’s Growth State: our plan for prosperity initiative.
Consultation is now open and provides an opportunity for industry and other interested parties to help shape this important multi-billion-dollar sector.
Growth State is the Marshall Liberal Government’s work plan to achieve up to three per cent overall growth each year in South Australia and is being applied initially to sectors identified as having the strongest prospects for increased trade and investment.
Industry sector plans have already been released for tourism and international education and consultation is also currently open for the food, wine and agribusiness industries sector plan.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment David Ridgway said the health and medical industries sector is already a significant contributor to South Australia’s economy and there are many more opportunities to grow this further.
“South Australia boasts one of the largest health science precincts in the southern hemisphere and has the track record, capability and ambition to continue its global leadership in the development and scaling of distinctive medical technologies and services,” Mr Ridgway said.
“Global health companies are choosing South Australia as their destination for research and development, clinical trials, manufacturing, and sales and marketing.
Mr Ridgway said in 2017-18 the health and medical industries sector contributed $4.2 billion to the state’s economy, employing nearly 24,000 South Australians.
“We want to take this sector to the next level and this consultation process is about seeking industry input on what the opportunities are for further growth and what policy initiatives will be required to support that,” Mr Ridgway said.
“Feedback will inform the development of a final industry-led Sector Plan for Health and Medical Industries, so I urge those working in the sector to provide their feedback.”
Eight specialty areas have been identified within the health and medical industries sector that are targets for growth, including:
- Ageing and the care industry
- Biotechnology
- Clinical trials
- Digital health
- Medical devices
- Medical tourism
- Nutraceuticals and traditional medicine, and
- Pharmaceuticals.
During the consultation period, a series of workshops will be hosted by the Department for Trade, Tourism and Investment on each of the eight sub-sectors.
Consultation is open until Friday 25 October 2019. Feedback on the discussion paper can be sent via email to
To view a copy of the Health and Medical Industries Sector discussion paper, please click here:
