Researchers are pushing to find out why New Zealand's healthcare system is failing men

Between the ages of 50 and 75 years-old, the mortality rate of a man is 30 per cent higher than a woman in the same age bracket.

An Otago University study is investigating what support men need to become more health literate.

Professor David Baxter says inequities in access to quality care need to be addressed.

He says the tragedy is that we've known about this for a while - but there's been a lack of clinical and political interest.