National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions: Response to the Consultation on the Second Draft

This submission to the Department of Health responds to its May 2016 consultation on the second draft of the National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions, answering the consultation’s questions on the Framework’s enablers, objectives and outcomes. Research Australia finds the Framework broadly appropriate and focuses on the role of research within it. It asks that the enabler ‘health research’ be broadened to ‘research’ so that social sciences, health services, implementation and health economics research are not excluded. For each objective it identifies where research is needed: understanding risk factors and evaluating prevention programs, faster translation of evidence into practice, better diagnostic tools and screening, health literacy and patient engagement, continuity of care, access to services, and culturally appropriate programs for priority populations. It warns that existing funders, including the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Australian Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund, have their own priorities, and suggests targeted priority-driven research programs, with Cancer Australia as a partial model. It also recommends capacity building in health services research, health economics and large data set analysis, for data linkage that explicitly provides for research use, and for stronger links between researchers and the health workforce.