20th May 2021 “New Zealanders have been badly let down by Budget 2021’s diminishing support for health research” New Zealanders for Health Research (NZHR) Chief Executive Chris Higgins said today. “$117.5m has been allocated for health research, compared to estimated expenditure of $130.6m for This means that direct government investment in health research has fallen…

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21st April 2021 In what is described as a big win for New Zealand health research the Productivity Commission’s latest report recommends that “the Government should use its intended major health system reform to improve the mandate, funding and incentives for DHBs to participate in the healthtech innovation ecosystem”. New Zealanders for Health Research (NZHR)…

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On 31st March 2021 NZHR’s Chief Executive Chris Higgins appeared before and presented its submission on the Government’s Budget Policy Statement (BPS) 2021 to Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee. In our oral submission we expressed some cynicism that the 2021 budget appeared to be a predetermined “done deal”, observed that the 2021 wellbeing framework has…

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The Productivity Commission’s report includes a general focus on the need for improved productivity to be driven by innovation through investment in research and development, with a specific focus on the role of health R&D. Much of the report’s commentary in this regard echoes issues that have been previously raised by NZHR, including the health…

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NZHR has sent briefing papers to the incoming Ministers and Associate Ministers of Health and Research, Science and Innovation, with copies to Opposition party spokespeople, the Chief Executives of the Health Research Council and Ministry of Health, and the Prime Minister’s, MBIE’s and MoH’s Chief Science Advisors. We continue to advocate strongly for health research…

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