71021 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

71021 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter April to June 2024 toward the action ‘Prioritise investments through an inclusive priority-setting process’, under ‘Strategic Priority 1: Invest in excellent health research that addresses the health needs of all New Zealanders’ within the Ministry of Health’s New Zealand Health Research Strategy 2017 – 2027?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that during the quarter April to June 2024, the Health Research Council (HRC) continued ongoing work to implement the New Zealand Health Research Prioritisation Framework, developed under Action 1 of the New Zealand Health Research Strategy. This sits within a broader programme of system improvement and efficiency design work. This included developing refreshed guidance for Programme Grant and Emerging Researcher First Grant applications, which opened in August 2024. The refreshed guidance clearly signals the HRC’s priorities and will increase the focus of research on health and science system priorities and strengthen the contribution and value of HRC-funded research.