Professor Pauline Norris

Research

My research focuses on access to, and use of, medicines. I am particularly interested in ethnic and other inequities and how to reduce these. I use both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

My current or recent projects include:

• The 'FreeMeds' study: a randomised controlled trial of prescription charges. This showed that even small charges can lead to people going without medicines they need, resulting in higher rates of hospitalisation. This HRC-funded study informed the government's decision to eliminate prescription charges and was awarded the HSRAANZ (Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand) Impact award in 2023.
• The 'Access to Medicines: Exploring Lived Experience' study, which explored access to medicines for Māori, Pacific, and former refugee households, and Pākehā households living in poverty. This study was funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand and led to another project on improving primary care for former refugees.
• 'Producing 'facts': how are Big Data created?' is a Marsden-funded study on the social construction of data, examining two areas: child protection and the assessment of older people's needs. Although not about access to medicines, it continues my long-standing interest in data and its accuracy.

In 2024 I visited the University of Turku on a Visiting Fellowship with the INVEST group.