Funding for Health and Medical Research

Issue

The Australian Government’s investment in health and medical research funding.

Response

The Government has made significant investment in health and medical research. Continued Government investment will keep Australians healthy and reduce the incidence of disease and suffering. The Government has reconfirmed its commitment to health and medical research by maintaining these all-time high levels of funding to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in the 2012-13 Budget, with $760.5 million committed to the NHMRC for health and medical research.

The Government is maintaining support for Australia’s best and brightest health and medical research innovators as they undertake their world-beating research. In October 2012, $652 million for 1,141 grants for ground-breaking health and medical research across Australia was announced with a further $127.9 million for 151 grants in December 2012.

The Government has also commissioned an independent Strategic Review of Health and Medical Research in Australia (the Review) to focus on optimising Australia’s capacity to produce world class health and medical research to 2020.

A final report from the Review, including recommendations for a 10-year strategic health and medical research plan for the nation, has now been provided to Government.

On 5 April 2013 the Government released the final report for the Review. The report contains recommendations that build on the Government’s achievements in the health and medical research sector. The Government is committed to further strengthening Australia’s health and medical research capacity in to the future and will be carefully considering all the recommendations of the Review.

There are many people and organisations from researchers, health professionals and consumers who have already provided input into the Review process and will be interested in its conclusions. The Government will engage with relevant parties in formulating its response.