Regional Public Sector Digital Radiology Project Launched

Australia's leading medical IT and e-health provider Pro Medicus Limited (ASX:PME) is now able to provide details of the major public sector digital radiology contract it advised the market of late last year.

Launched in Wodonga today by Victorian Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson, the project links the medical imaging departments of health services and public hospitals across a large part of north eastern Victoria. Delivered over HumeNet, a broadband network linking health services across the region, digital radiology images and reports can be sent electronically between doctors and specialists in Wodonga, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Bright, Myrtleford, Beechworth, Mansfield, Numurkah and Nathalia.

Patients can now have their medical images sent to the best medical practitioners in the region in a matter of seconds, allowing a quick and easy diagnosis. This type of service is a first for Australia and one of the first of its kind in the world. Minister Thomson noted that only Finland and Norway have embraced similar technology in their rural areas.

Ms Thomson said the project was also demonstrating the benefits of this technology to other Victorian communities and will act as a showcase for what broadband networks can deliver in terms of better medical treatment. She also said that medical practitioners in the area, such as radiologists, may be able to increase their productivity by up to 30% due to this project.

Full implementation of the Hume project, which will generate approximately $1 million to Pro Medicus over the next 2 years, is on schedule and will be completed in the current financial year. Pro Medicus expects to book the majority of the revenue from the project in its 2003/2004 accounts.

For more information:

Dr Sam Hupert Managing Director Pro Medicus Limited	Mike Feehan Monsoon Communications Phone: + 61 3 9620 3333
Email: hupert@promedicus.com.au Phone: +61 3 9429 8800 Facsimile: +61 3 9429 9544