The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences welcomes today’s release of the draft National Health and Medical Research Strategy 2026–2036.

On initial reading of the draft strategy, the Academy is pleased to see that several of the priorities it has consistently called for are included in the draft. These include:

• Embedding research and innovation as functions of the health system to deliver better health outcomes for Australians.
• Unified and coordinated Commonwealth health and medical research funding to reduce duplication and strengthen alignment across the system, and national coordination of priorities and investment to ensure research delivers maximum impact.
• A strategic approach to workforce development, support and planning, including for clinician–researcher pathways and EMCRs.
• Emerging technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) – coordinated national policy, responsible harnessing of AI, data linkage, and building trust in science.
• Horizon scanning to anticipate emerging health challenges and opportunities.
• Support for collaborative platforms and networks, including Research Translation Centres, to drive research into practice.
• Stronger academia-health-industry integration and sovereign capability.
• Research and its translation to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health and wellbeing.
• A secure, resilient and a sustainable health system that recognises climate change is an urgent health priority.

The Academy will be undertaking a deeper analysis of the draft strategy and will issue further commentary in the coming weeks.

The Academy looks forward to continuing our close work with Ms Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the Health and Medical Research Office and the Government as the next phase of the strategy’s development progresses.

Academy media contact: Khaled Chakli: [email protected] (0423 099 568)