Page 104 - BHTA 100 years

BHTA Engage developed Global Healthcare Trader, a new tool for companies looking to nd distributors around the world and for distributors to nd suppliers looking for representatives in their country. The new initiative partnered with the Assistive Technology Suppliers Australasia (ATSA) with the Australian Trade Association promoting the new worldwide distributor- nder website in that region.
ATSA Executive Of cer, David Sinclair, said that the timing of the new service could not be better: “The timing of this initiative coincides with the changing market of AT in Australia with the onset of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the National Injury Insurance Scheme (NIIS) and the Aged Care Reforms. NDIS alone will support over 460,000 Australian participants by 2020 with a full support budget of $22 billion AUS per annum.”
The most recent years of BHTA activity had seen the Association grow, both in numbers and in uence.
Throughout the history, there have been hundreds of meetings and that fast pace continues. For example, in 2016 there were 31 Section meetings, 15 Working Group meetings, 5 Workshops for social media, barcoding and decontamination and infection prevention.
Added to that 7 networking dinners were arranged, the Board met 5 times, the Council met twice and there were dozens of external meetings with charities, Section chairs, members, potential members and organisations such as the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) and NHS Business Services Authority (BSA) etc.
The Association currently has 11 full-time and 8 part-time members of staff. BHTA Engage has two team members and there is a Co-ordinator for NFSUK.
As it has over the past 100 years, the Association represents industry across a whole range of issues – an example in the present day is confusion as to whether toileting and bathing products are classi ed as medical devices. As it has done for many years and for many companies, the Association spends time gaining clari cation and getting the answers so that companies can do business as effectively as possible.
BHTA 100 years