As Chair of Humpty's Medical Program Advisory Committee (MPAC), I am excited to share with you the remarkable progress we've made in 2023. Our dedicated committee, together with the support of Humpty’s generous donors and partners, have been instrumental in enhancing healthcare access for children across Australia.
A Year of Accomplishments
In 2023, we received 200 applications from hospitals and healthcare services nationwide. Among them, 163 deserving requests were approved to be added to Humpty's Wish List, demonstrating our commitment to fulfilling urgent healthcare needs.
What is outstanding is that 82% of the applications submitted to Humpty Dumpty were added to our Wish List by August 30, 2023, with a combined equipment value of over $2 million. These numbers reflect our unwavering dedication to ensuring that every item on Humpty's Wish List meets an urgent need in the healthcare sector.
As many as 79 hospitals and health services applied for essential medical equipment. A remarkable 70% of these applications hailed from regional and rural areas, reaffirming the pressing need for our assistance in these communities.
Photo: Associate Professor Kath Browning Carmo, Humpty's Director of Medical Program, Rebekah McLachlan, and Nurse Unit Manager Mickaela Assimus, Katherine Hospital, Northern Territory
Notable Contributions
Some of the notable contributions this year include the donation of 20 Lumify Devices to the Menzies School of Health Research, a generous contribution worth over $150,000. This equipment will significantly aid in the detection of Rheumatic Heart Disease in remote and Aboriginal communities, making a substantial impact on healthcare outcomes.
Additionally, we are immensely proud of the $1.4 million donation of five ambulances to the NSW Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS). These ambulances will play a crucial role in supporting the retrieval and care of critically ill babies and children in New South Wales.
The MPAC stands as the guardian of Humpty's Wish List. With rigorous assessments, we ensure that every item listed meets an urgent need in paediatric healthcare. For donors, it's a tangible way to make a real difference in the lives of sick children.
Australia's healthcare system faces ever-increasing pressures, with health budgets continuing to grow due to population expansion, an aging demographic, advances in medical technology, equipment, treatments and inflation. Despite a substantial health budget in New South Wales, which stands at $33 billion, Humpty remains a lifeline for many health services, preventing them from going without essential equipment.
Fulfilling Urgent Needs in Regional Areas
Regional areas often experience healthcare disadvantages compared to their metropolitan counterparts, which result in inequitable access to care and poorer health outcomes. These disadvantages include a lack of access to medical equipment and technology, shortages of healthcare professionals, and funding allocation disparities.
In response to these challenges, Humpty collaborates with hospitals and health services in regional and rural areas, acting as a vital link between donors and urgent equipment needs. The partnership between Humpty and Northern Territory (NT) Health is a striking example, where gaps and needs are identified by NT Health clinical teams and prioritised by the NT Health Clinical Donations Committee. In 2022, we donated 678 pieces of medical equipment to the NT, valued at over $767,000, and continued our support with 82 pieces donated by June 2023.
The MPAC, together with our donors, partners, and supporters, continues to make a substantial impact on paediatric healthcare across Australia.
With your continued support, we are committed to building a healthier, more equitable future for our most vulnerable children.
Thank you for joining us on this extraordinary journey.
By Assoc. Professor Kath Browning Carmo
Chair, Humpty's Medical Program Advisory Committee