DHA selects Accenture for digital health infrastructure support

The Australian Digital Health Agency (DHA) has announced the finalisation of an open market procurement to provide the application support and maintenance (ASM) services for digital health infrastructure, with Accenture Australia selected to provide the services for the next three years.

Agency CEO Amanda Cattermole said the contract would support My Health Record at a time of significant and growing use, with more than 25 million active records, around 207 million clinician uses in the past 12 months and around 30 million consumer views each month.

“Stable, secure and reliable services are vital for the healthcare providers and Australian healthcare consumers who rely on My Health Record,” she said. “This contract will support those services while providing a foundation for future transformation as the agency works with governments, healthcare providers and technology partners on the progressive transition to a modernised FHIR-based ecosystem.

“The procurement outcome was shaped by the Agency’s comprehensive consultation with industry, informed by significant feedback received through a Request for Information put to the market in November 2024.”

Agency Chief Technical Officer John Borchi said the contract establishes a new operating model from previous arrangements, with the Agency leading the end-to-end service.

“The Agency sets priorities for national digital health infrastructure, including My Health Record, coordinates delivery across multiple suppliers and, of course, retains accountability for governance, assurance and decision-making,” he said.

Accenture Australia’s Managing Director Health and Public Service, Mike Brennan, welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the agency-led, multi-supplier operating model.

“We look forward to bringing our experience to support the secure and reliable operation of critical national digital health services and working alongside the agency and its partners as Australia’s digital health system continues to evolve for the benefit of Australians and healthcare workers,” Brennan said.

Image credit: iStock.com/Thanaphum Tachakanjanapong