Pharmacy Daily | New plan for $50 million in MRFF funding

THE Federal Department of Health and Aged Care has released a new Primary Health Research Plan that will shape $50 million in funding from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

Designed by an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Professor Jane Gunn, the plan acknowledged that there were increasing difficulties in accessing primary healthcare for many Australians.

The plan aims to alleviate the issues by focusing on person-centred care using a team-based multidisciplinary approach.

"We want our most creative minds to think about how we put equity at the centre of primary healthcare in this country," Gunn said.

"What are new models of care that might work? We're not expecting there is a single answer.

"There will be different approaches that could happen in rural or regional areas, compared with metropolitan areas."

According to the plan, its primary objectives are to "transform primary care access, equity, safety and efficiency through primary-care-led research that improves health outcomes and patient experience, and contribute to a sustainable and thriving workforce".

It will do this across three priority areas of research investment: patient access to multi-disciplinary team-based care, integrated health services for the provision of patient centred care, and the use of data to improve patient care.

Fifty million dollars over four years from 2023-24 has been allocated for the Research Plan, including up to $30 million over four years from 2024-25 from the MRFF's Emerging Priorities and Consumer-Driven Research (EPCDR) initiative, and up to $20 million over two years starting 2025-26 from the MRFF's Primary Health Care Research initiative.

Gunn said, "I hope researchers will be excited by this plan.

"With their engagement we can realise our ambition to revitalise primary healthcare."

The full plan can be viewed here.