Health Research Foundation Legislation Introduced

Health Minister Jim Smith introduced legislation today to establish the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation.

"The Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation will generate both health and economic benefits for the province," said Dr. Smith. "The foundation will help attract specialists to the province, improve the quality of care delivered in Nova Scotia and assert our position as a major skills centre of excellence in both research and clinical health care."

The major initiatives of the foundation will be to fund worthy applicants in the fields of health outcome research and evaluation, medical research, health public policy research and health utilization research. It will provide the infrastructure needed to help Nova Scotia's researchers attract funds from national and international research bodies.

It is expected that three to five dollars of economic activity will be generated for every one dollar from the foundation.

Government will provide $5 million in annual funding to the foundation. A board of directors will be appoint by the Governor in Council. They will operate at arms length from government and be responsible for the operation and management of the foundation including evaluating research proposals.

The board members will be asked to declare if they have a direct or indirect interest in a specific research application to avoid any conflict of interest situations.

Premier Russell MacLellan announced government's intention to set up the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation in March 1998.

Note: The following is intended for use by broadcast media.

Legislation to create the Nova Scotia Health Research

Foundation was introduced in the legislature today.

Health Minister Jim Smith says the foundation will help

attract specialists to the province and improve the quality of

health care.

The foundation will provide funding for health and public

policy research.

It is expected that three to five dollars of economic

activity will be generated for every one dollar from the

foundation.

Government will provide $5 million dollars annually to the

foundation.