The New Zealand based paediatrician Cook Islander Dr Kiki Maoate is confident that Pacific people will soon have a better understanding about the research that is carried out in their country.
With assistance from New Zealand's Health Research Council, the Cook Islands has set up an office to monitor the activities of overseas researchers.
Dr Maoate, who is a former chairman of the Health Research Council, says people will be better informed and have a better understanding about the benefits to them.
"One of the things we haven't quite got into is actually the value of Intellectual property rights that this thing is far more valuable to have it as ours rather than free flowing internationally."
Dr Kiki Maoate
