The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) has formed a partnership with the University of Sydney to address national skills shortages in health and aged care.
IHACPA CEO Professor Michael Pervan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Professor Benjamin Eggleton, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University, marking IHACPA’s first such collaboration. The alliance aims to create training and career opportunities for the next generation of health researchers, introducing an industry-backed PhD program and expanding multidisciplinary health research.
IHACPA’s expertise in healthcare cost analysis will complement the University’s Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics.
The collaboration seeks to enhance Australia’s capacity to improve the healthcare system using evidence-based approaches. Professor Eggleton highlighted that the partnership aligns with the University’s goal to make Sydney, Australia, and the world better places through research and education.
Professor Andrew Wilson and Professor Kirsten Howard, Co-Directors of the Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, welcomed the partnership, which will form an important part of the Centre’s focus on improving public health outcomes through policy innovation and practical implementation.
‘We are looking forward to seeing how the Menzies Centre can work with IHACPA to inform health policies that are able to deliver safe, high-quality health care that is sustainable in the long term, supported by our research which demonstrates a strong commitment to patient-centred outcomes,’ Professor Wilson said.
‘As part of the agreement, we will develop a new Higher Degree Research program, opening doors for students to work at IHACPA and fostering career opportunities,’ Professor Howard added.
The MoU also establishes a Higher Degree Research program, fostering student opportunities at IHACPA. The partnership extends existing collaborations through the National Health and Medical Research Council-funded Centre for Research Excellence on Value-Based Payments in Cancer Care, ensuring continued research collaborations until 2024 and laying the groundwork for future endeavours.
