Submission to New International Development Policy review

As a leading medical research nation, Australia has the opportunity to use its considerable talents and resources to boost its international development efforts by better combining medical research with international aid. Australia’s outstanding medical research is already delivering improved health and economic outcomes through the Indo-pacific region. This is best demonstrated through case studies one to four which accompany this submission.

A healthy economy is reliant on a healthy society. Achieving this will require research being fully embedded into all health programs within the aid program as well as smart investments in health and medical research. There should be no major expenditure on health interventions without an accompanying knowledge gain designed to promote current and future cost-effective health benefits.

The key recommendations of this submission are:

  • Recommendation 1.1: The quantum of aid funding should be increased, including an increase in funding for health investments.
  • Recommendation 1.2: Research should be embedded in all future health investments made through the aid program.
  • Recommendation 2: The new international development policy should consider incorporating the World Health Organization health priorities for the Western Pacific Region.
  • Recommendation 3.1: Continue funding for the Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security beyond 2022.
  • Recommendation 3.2: Establish an Australian Centre for International Health and Medical Research.
  • Recommendation 4: Expand the role of the Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security to cover non-communicable diseases
  • Recommendation 5: Ensure a strong working relationship with Australia’s funders of medical research to help optimise support for health components of the aid program.
  • Recommendation 6: Build capacity of Indo-Pacific nations in health and medical research across the entire research pipeline, from discovery to implementation.

Download the full submission below.