This one is called a Review but it seems to be similar to the scores of working groups and committees and inquiries set up by the Government.
A major health Review, to be chaired by Heather Simpson, senior staffer for Helen Clark when she was Prime minister and also in when working for the UN, and I think also assisting the current prime Minister’s office, will report back by January 2020.
That is unlikely to leave enough time to make any major changes prior to the election, but will likely provide for a basis for Labour-Green campaign policy.
Major review of health system launched
Health Minister Dr David Clark has announced a wide-ranging review designed to future-proof our health and disability services.
“New Zealanders are generally well served by our health services, particularly when they are seriously unwell or injured. Overall we are living longer and healthier lives – but we also face major challenges,” says David Clark.
“The Review of the New Zealand Health and Disability Sector will be wide-ranging and firmly focused on a fairer future. It will look at the way we structure, resource and deliver health services – not just for the next few years but for decades to come.
“We need to face up to the fact that our health system does not deliver equally well for all. We know our Māori and Pacific peoples have worse health outcomes and shorter lives. That is something we simply cannot accept.
“We also need to get real about the impact of a growing and aging population, and the increase in chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes. Those issues in turn create pressure on services and the health workforce that need to be addressed for the long term sustainability of our public health service.
“The Review will include a strong focus on primary and community based care. We want to make sure people get the health care they need to stay well. Early intervention and prevention work can also help take pressure off our hospitals and specialist services.
“People rightly have high expectations of our public health service. As Health Minister I want to ensure we can meet those expectations now and into the future,” says David Clark.
The Review will be chaired by Heather Simpson, who is perhaps best known as Chief of Staff to Helen Clark from 1999-2008 but also has a background in health economics. The Review will provide an interim report by the end of July 2019 and a final report by 31 January 2020.
The review would culminate in a report to Government, including recommendations, on:
- How the health system can improve accessibility and outcomes for all populations
- Whether the health system promotes the right balance between availability of services,
(particularly tertiary services) population density and proximity - Whether the current system is well-placed to deal with environmental challenges such as climate
change, antibiotic resistance and technological advances - Whether there are changes that can be made to the health system that would make it fairer,
more equitable and effective - How the technological and global healthcare context is evolving, what opportunities and risks
this rapidly-evolving context presents, and whether there are changes that would support the
health system to adapt effectively given the rapid changes underway.
In examining the points above, the review would consider the following:
- Demographic impacts – what the predicted population changes are, their potential impacts
upon service demand, workforce availability and risks that may need to be managed - The international landscape – what New Zealand might learn from examining where health
systems are heading internationally and what the impacts are, including input from relevant
international organisations such as the OECD, World Health Organisation and the
Commonwealth Fund - Decisions around distribution of healthcare resources, capacity of the health system to deliver
care and clinical effectiveness (quality and safety) – e.g. how does the current geographic
distribution of services help or hinder the system as a whole - Funding – how financial resources applied to health funding could be altered to provide
greater flexibility in allocation, better transparency of return on investment, better support
innovation in service mix/design and investment in key enablers, and reduce inequities
through targeting those in need - Investment practices – providing a nation-wide view of how much infrastructure will be
needed, over what timeframe and the balance to be struck across service provision and
delivery - Ways to support the increasing priority of the role primary care and prevention has within the
wider heath service - Potential opportunities and risks associated with rapidly emerging technological advances and
the implications for, including but not limited to, clinical tools and settings, communication and
transport - Institutional arrangements – roles and responsibilities, funding, accountability and delivery
arrangements.
