Tinkering at the edges of reform won’t cut it: National Health and Medical Research Strategy

Australia’s health and medical research community has welcomed the release of the draft National Health and Medical Research Strategy, with Research Australia and the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) describing it as a crucial step towards securing the sector’s long-term strength and competitiveness.

Unveiled by Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler MP, the draft Strategy sets out a 10-year vision for the nation’s health and medical research and innovation ecosystem. It will now enter a national consultation phase before being finalised by the end of 2025.

“From the very beginning of this process, Research Australia has been actively calling for a Strategy that doesn’t just sit on a shelf. So we are very pleased to see the focus on governance structures, implementation and evaluation frameworks included in the draft Strategy,” said Nadia Levin, CEO of Research Australia.

Research Australia reiterated that the Strategy represents a rare opportunity to deliver a whole-of-pipeline, whole-of-government approach to health and medical research. Levin called for alignment with other national reform agendas, including the Strategic Examination of R&D, the National Research Infrastructure Roadmap, the Clinical Trials Reform Agenda, and the ongoing HTA Review.

“If we continue to only tinker at the edges of reform, we consign ourselves to being consumers of global innovation rather than producers – dependent, reactive and increasingly uncompetitive,” Levin warned.

The AAMRI also welcomed the draft Strategy, highlighting the importance of its commitment to a national workforce plan and acknowledgement of the indirect costs of research.

“A clear workforce plan and a pathway to cover the full costs of research are essential building blocks if we want Australia’s health and medical research sector to thrive,” said AAMRI CEO Dr Saraid Billiards. “We’re encouraged by the vision laid out in this draft and look forward to working with government to ensure the final Strategy translates into tangible action that supports our institutes and the researchers within them.”

While AAMRI welcomed the Strategy’s focus on reducing duplication across funding streams and boosting research translation, Dr Billiards emphasised that further clarity is needed on how it will guarantee long-term sustainability and certainty for the sector.

“This draft is an excellent start, but the real test will be in the implementation. Our sector needs long-term commitments that provide our workforce with stable careers, enable institutes to meet the full costs of research, and ensure Australia maintains its world-class standing in medical research,” she said.

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