Pre-market health systems barriers and enablers to infectious diseases point-of-care diagnostics in Australia: qualitative interviews with key informants

Lise Lafferty*, Tanya L. Applegate, Sophie Lewis, Kerryn Drysdale, Robert Monaghan, Angela Kelly-Hanku, Rebecca Guy, Carla Treloar

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: There exist multiple regulatory layers for point-of-care (POC) testing to be implemented within Australia. This qualitative analysis sought to understand the pre-market barriers and facilitators to scale-up infectious diseases POC testing in primary care settings at the national level. Methods: Key informant interviews were undertaken with people (n = 30) working in high- level positions relevant to infectious diseases POC testing in Australia. Participants were recruited from federal and state health departments, industry, and nongovernment national peak bodies. The Unitaid scalability framework informed this analysis to understand barriers and enablers to creating access conditions and establishing country readiness for market access of POC tests. Results: Participants identified regulatory frameworks as significant barriers to market access. National strategies and advocacy were viewed as potential enablers to establishing country readiness. It was recommended that the national system for universal health care should fund infectious disease POC tests to ensure financial sustainability, though the existing pathology infrastructure was regarded as a likely inhibitor. Conclusions: Current regulatory frameworks inhibit market access for infectious disease POC testing devices for use in the primary care setting. National advocacy is urgently needed to gain government support and align national policies with regulatory frameworks.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1317
JournalBMC Infectious Diseases
Volume24
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.

Keywords

  • Infectious diseases
  • Point-of-care testing
  • Qualitative research
  • Regulatory frameworks
  • Sustainability

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