The Panel of the Strategic Review of Health and Medical Research in Australia  held its second meeting on 19 December 2011 in Melbourne.

 

The six-member Panel, chaired by Simon McKeon, is undertaking the first comprehensive review of health and medical research since the Wills review in 1998 and is required ton consider “how to optimise the future environment for health and medical research in this country in a fiscally sustainable manner.”

A website for the Review is currently being constructed and should be completed towards the end of January.

A call for public submissions to the review is expected to be made at the beginning of February, and the period during which submissions will be accepted is likely to continue for two months through to the end of March.

Stakeholder consultations are likely to commence in late April 2012 and continue through until July. Consultations are planned for each capital city of Australia and it is expected that both private meetings with major stakeholders and a public workshop with interested stakeholders, including members of the public, will be held in each city.

It is expected that the final report, including recommendations for a 10-year strategic health and medical research plan for the nation, will be provided to the Minister in late 2012.

The next Panel meeting is planned for early February 2012, following which further details on stakeholder consultation processes will be released.

 

Panel members include: 

Mr Simon McKeon (Chair);

Ms Elizabeth Alexander AM;

Professor Henry Brodaty AO;

Mr Bill Ferris AC;

Professor Ian Frazer; and

Professor Melissa Little.