Local medtech wins $10m hospital contract

A robotic arm to assist in surgeries will be rolled out at Fremantle Hospital, after its developer secured a $10.3 million contract through the state's market-led proposal system.

The Mako SmartRobotics technology, developed by Sydney-based Stryker, aims to assist doctors in performing knee and hip replacement surgeries.

Mako is the first government-funded tech to be used in Western Australia's public hospital system.

According to Tenders WA, the Department of Health accepted an “unsolicited proposal” from Stryker in August to use the Mako system at South Metropolitan Health Service's (SMHS) Fremantle Hospital under a five-year agreement.

The contract also requires Stryker to train relevant medical, nursing and operation staff in using its technology as well as provide support engineers and installation, operation and maintenance experts in Mako.

SMHS will exclusively own the Mako system at the close of the five-year term.

The health department said the contract aligned with its ‘Innovate for Sustainability’ strategy, as part of a final Sustainable Health Review Report that was published in April 2019.

Kevin Lobo-led Stryker has also developed orthopaedic robots to assist doctors in performing knee replacement surgeries, with the tech used at St John of God Midland Public Hospital.