Researchers push for changes to New Zealand health bill

Reformed health system must embrace research and evidence-based decision-making, parliamentary committee told

The lobby group New Zealanders for Health Research has claimed a “win” as reforms to New Zealand’s health system move through parliament, but it has called for more changes to the proposed legislation.

In its latest newsletter, NZHR says that the inclusion of the Health Research Council as a formal part of the health system will help the goal of having research more embedded in health. The bill now states “that developing the required New Zealand Health Plan…must take into account the role of the Health Research Council within the health system”, NZHR says. Under the legislation, a three-year health plan will underpin the distribution of funding to health service providers.