Increased Medicine Research Grant

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32114, 9 October 1969, Page 28

Increased Medicine Research Grant

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 8. ’ An increase in the grant for medical research for the 1970-1972 triennium has been approved by the Cabinet, the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) announced today.

He said that the total grant for this period at $3.5m was nearly double the grant for the three years 1967-1969, which was double the 1964-1966 grant, so that funds for the next triennium had quadrupled since 1964.

The Minister said that the provision of adequate funds for research improved the quality of teaching in medical schools, to which academic staff were attracted where there were adequate research facilities.

Mr McKay said the expanded grant took into account the needs of the Auckland medical school and recognised that research facilities and the provision of research fellowships assisted in retaining graduates who otherwise; might go overseas.

The 1966 reconstitution of the Medical Research Council had given a new impetus to medical research in New Zealand, which was well served by the members of the Medical Research Council who had brought together an aggregation of qualifications and experience in this field, hitherto unparalleled in New Zealand. Mr McKay said the council was well able to determine the merits of present and proposed research projects and to ensure that finance allocated for this purpose was well spent GAPS IDENTIFIED The council was also able to identify gaps in the pre-

sent research programme. It had already, by the establishment of advisory committees, recognised that more research was needed in such fields as psychiatry, neurology, drugs, road accidents and medical statistics.

In addition to the grant of 53.5 m for the next triennium, the Government had agreed to review this sum to meet future increases in salaries. INCREASE WELCOMED

The increased medical research grant is “welcome news, encouraging and most stimulating,” the chairman of the Medical Research Council (Mr T. H. C. Caughey), said in Auckland today.

I The grant will be adminis- ; tered by the council. | Mr Caughey said that the I $3.5m voted for the three [years from January 1 next 'was virtually the amount the i council had asked the Government for, after a careful assessment of all the applications received from directors of research units and individual research workers. 1 “The Government has shown great foresight in this generous grant, which is now in line with the amount for medical research New Zealand should be providing.

“Good medical research means first-class clinical medicine and progressive teaching in our medical schools and hospitals, 4 ' said Mr Caughey.