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Investment review of health and medical research announced

A review of funding provided by the Australian Government to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is to be completed by March next year.

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2 October 2003

Investment review of health and medical research announced

A review of funding provided by the Australian Government to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is to be completed by March next year.

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, said last night the Investment Review of Health and Medical Research would be led by Mr John Grant, chairman of Biota and Ambri, two of Australia's most successful medical technology companies.

Mr Grant has a strong background in investment and venture capital in the medical technology sector.

"In the May 1999 Budget, the Government made the historic commitment to double the base level of research funding for the NHMRC by 2004-05, an extra investment of $614 million over the five year period," Senator Patterson said.

"It is now time to review the impact of that investment and look to the future needs of health and medical research.

"I am also pleased to announce that Mr Peter Wills AC, who chaired the 1998 Wills Review, has agreed to be Strategic Adviser to the Investment Review.

"Mr Wills has a longstanding commitment to research and is also a former chairman of the Australian Research Council," Senator Patterson said.

The Investment Review will be supported by an independent secretariat and details of other members of the Investment Review panel will be announced shortly.

The Investment Review will provide an interim report by December.

Terms of Reference for the Investment Review are attached.

For more information: Randal Markey, Media Adviser, (02) 62777220

Terms of Reference for an Investment Review of Health and Medical Research

  1. Assess the impact on Australia's health and medical research outcomes resulting from the 1999-2000 Budget initiative to increase National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding by $614m to 2005-06, in line with the evaluation framework set out in the Health and Medical Research Strategic Review Implementation Committee's 2000 Report, entitled "Enabling the Virtuous Cycle".
     
  2. Report on the appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency of the current (NHMRC) funding in meeting its objectives and in responding to changed priorities and emerging issues in the Australian research environment, including:
    • an assessment of key performance indicators, as outlined in 'Enabling the Virtuous Cycle';
    • identification of barriers, gaps and short-falls;
    • the nature and effectiveness of the NHMRC's governance and management arrangements;
    • the impact of additional operating funding for the Office of the NHMRC and its capacity to support the NHMRC structure; and
    • the NHMRC's discharge of its role to:
      • inquire into and issue guidelines on and advise government and the community on matters as specified in the National Health and Medical Research Act 1992 (the Act) Clause 7(1)(a);
      • advise and make recommendations to the Commonwealth, the States and Territories as specified in the Act, Clause 7(1)(b); and
      • issue ethical guidelines for the conduct of medical research involving humans as specified in the Act, Clause 8;
      • regulate research in accordance with the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002; and
      • the interaction between the above and the NHMRC's funding role.

 
  1. Identify possible future directions and priorities in health and medical research in Australia taking into account a range of issues including:
    • the Commonwealth Government's science and innovation objectives including those defined in Backing Australia's Abilities and the National Research Priorities announced on 5 December 2002 by the Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard MP;
    • the government's fiscal strategy;
    • opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of funding, including the timeliness of funding allocation and research effort;
    • the impact of continuing to operate within the established level of funding;
    • provision of research infrastructure, including clinical research and associated infrastructure;
    • opportunities for collaborative effort, including through:
      • enhancing state, industry and philanthropic investment;
      • building on the relationship between NHMRC funding and other research funding in Australia, including other Commonwealth research funding;
      • exploring the possible inter-relationship between the roles of the NHRMC and the Australian Research Council (ARC);
    • the identified need for, and the development of, health services research;
    • Australia's need to maintain a broadly based research capacity which translates into health service improvements and commercial gains; and
    • ensuring Australia's capacity to contribute to, and draw from, international research.
Timing: A preliminary report on issues covered in paragraph 2 above will be provided by 30 November 2003 with a final report by 1 February 2004.