A researcher says urgent policy change is needed to ensure the future health workforce reflects the diverse communities it'll serve.

An Otago University, Auckland University and AUT study in the British Medical Journal Open, has analysed data from 20,000 students.

It's found systematic under-representation of Māori, Pacific, low socioeconomic and rural background students.

Otago University Professor Peter Crampton says currently it's up to individual universities and polytechs to make selection decisions.

He says the health system has a huge stake in these decisions and should be working with the Education Ministry and Tertiary Education Commission to guide funding.

LISTEN ABOVE