PM's science adviser Gluckman says health sector should do more research
By Rebecca Howard
June 22 (BusinessDesk) - Peter Gluckman, the Prime Minister's chief science adviser, says more funds should be poured
into medical research, which accounts for less than 1 percent of the government's health budget.
The government today launched a new 2017-2027 health research strategy after last year's $97 million increase for the
Health Research Council, staggered over five years. The funds mark the "largest increase in health research funding New
Zealand has ever seen," Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith said during the launch of the report at the
Clinical Trials Unit at Wellington Hospital. By 2020, annual investment in the HRC will increase to $120 million. The
goal is to create a world-leading research and innovation system, he said.
Still, Gluckman said the Crown spends $15 billion on healthcare every year and even with the large increase in the
Health Research Council funding "we are still spending less than 1 percent of our health budget" on research.
The onus is on the health sector to carry out the necessary operational research to be more effective and "do better by
its patients," he said. "A business of $15 billion in any other sector would be spending at least 1 percent of its
budget on operational research just to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its delivery," he added. That equates
to about $150 million.
Goldsmith wouldn't comment on whether the health sector is spending enough, sheeting responsibility back to Health
Minister Jonathan Coleman. However, he underscored the government has "significantly" boosted funding for health
research.
"We are mindful of all the competing pressures and the overall science investment has been one of the largest areas of
increased investment over the last few years by the government," he told BusinessDesk on the sidelines of the event.
The strategy was designed because "we knew we were making a big contribution so it was important to work out the
priorities and some things we can focus on," Goldsmith said. The next steps involve setting up an external advisory
group to advise on implementation. Progress will be evaluated by Goldsmith and Coleman every six months, who will
provide regular reports to the Cabinet.
(BusinessDesk)