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Council

21 October, 2023

MP supports idea to reduce waiting lists

SOUTH West Coast MP Roma Britnell has called on the Victorian Government to support a local innovation which could help reduce Victoria’s hospital wait lists.

By Staff Writer

Dr Philip Gan, a talented South West Coast specialist and leading surgeon, has development a technique which minimises the invasiveness and trauma of surgery. 

Patents have been granted globally for Dr Gan’s advanced keyhole laparoscopic device, the LiVac retractor, which helps patients recover as painlessly and as quickly as possible from gastrointestinal surgery. 

The device has full worldwide approval, including by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and is currently in use in the United States, Asia and European Union, being used on thousands of patients with no adverse events reported. 

This represents a manufacturing opportunity for Victoria, however Dr Gan was overlooked for funding from the Labor Government’s innovation initiative, Breakthrough Victoria.

Ms Britnell said the Victorian Government’s failure to provide funding for the concept was a missed opportunity to address waiting-lists which have increase pressure on the public health system and left patients with dealing with illness while waiting for an opportunity to have surgery. 

“This is a great opportunity for our state and could easily be missed,” she said. 

“I call on Breakthrough Victoria to revisit Dr Gan’s application, or for the Labor Government to support further development directly.

“This technique could reduce time spent in hospital by up to half in many cases, freeing up healthcare workers, beds, and putting downward pressure on Victoria’s crushing hospital wait list times.”

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