New Zealanders want drug companies and government to spend more on health research

Most Kiwis want the private sector to fork out more for health and medical research, a new opinion survey has found.

The online survey of 504 adults by Roy Morgan Research found 86 per cent wanted private sector businesses such as pharmaceutical companies to stump up more for health research.

This was slightly more than the 83 per cent who wanted the Government to cough up more.

Fifty-eight per cent thought charities should be channelling more of their resources into health research, and 31 per cent wanted individuals to pay more.

The survey was commissioned by a new public education and advocacy alliance called New Zealanders for Health Research, whose members include pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, charities and patient advocacy groups. The alliance’s aim is to make health research a higher priority in New Zealand.

The survey also investigated how much Kiwis donate for health research.

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