Should Australia develop primary care research networks?

Primary care research networks have emerged in other countries over the past decade. Rigorous data to determine the level of their achievement are lacking. Research networks are a part of the current Australian primary healthcare research capacity building program, yet we have no systematic approach to their introduction. Australian networks should build upon international experience and should not duplicate the role of Divisions of General Practice. Each network should have clearly defined aims, strategies and key indicators against which to evaluate performance.