A national programme that seeks to expand the reach of clinical trials across Australia will continue to be implemented over the next four years with A$75 million ($45 million) investment from the Commonwealth Medical Research Future Fund.

The Australian Teletrial Program (ATP), which was first piloted in 2018, leverages telehealth technology to create a network of rural, regional and remote clinical trial sites nationwide. It allows clinicians and participants to take part in clinical trials remotely so they will no longer have to travel long distances to major cities.

Queensland Health will continue to head the programme as the lead jurisdiction with Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory as programme partners.

In Queensland, multiple hospitals and health services (HHS) will be involved in the programme with the Townsville HHS hosting the regional ATP clinical trial coordinating centre, a specialist unit of senior clinical staff working collaboratively with primary and satellite sites to conduct tele-trials. Townsville has been providing virtual specialist care in rural and remote areas since 2007 and is ideally positioned as a coordinating centre for ATP given its dispersed location.

WHY IT MATTERS

The latest federal funding will help ATP "significantly" expand the reach of clinical tele-trials, according to director Kaye Hewson. To date, the programme has conducted over 90 clinical trials with 58 participants across 37 clinical sites. 

ATP has set a target of 5,000 new participants, 2,400 new clinical trial sites, 90 new GP clinical sites, 208 new trials, and 5,000 staff to facilitate these services. 

ON THE RECORD

About seven million people or 28% of the Australian population live in rural and remote areas. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, these people face unique challenges due to their geographic location and often have poorer health outcomes than those living in major cities. They also have higher rates of hospitalisations, deaths, and injury and have lesser access to and use of primary health care services than people living in metropolitan areas.

"The programme will ensure equitable access to care for our regional patients, as well as [improve] their health outcomes and quality of life. It can also increase collaboration between clinicians and healthcare workers, and develop workforce capability and capacity in rural, regional and remote areas," Colleen Jen, Queensland Health Deputy Director-General of Clinical Planning and Service Strategy, commented.