28 June 2005
Health Expo Brings Together The Best In Health
New Zealanders are already enjoying the benefits of creative and cost-efficient health care innovations developed by the
24 finalists for the 2005 New Zealand Health Innovation Awards.
This year?s finalists bring together diverse new products, processes and services that include a novel text messaging
programme to help young people stop smoking, an energy saving campaign at Christchurch Hospital and an improved service
for treating older people with leg ulcers.
The finalists were chosen from 151 entries from all over New Zealand. They will display their entries and talk about
their work at a public expo at Te Papa on Thursday, 30 June.
The awards, sponsored by Telecom, were established jointly by ACC and the Ministry of Health to promote innovation in
health and rehabilitation and the sharing of good ideas across the health, disability and rehabilitation sector.
Winners will be announced at the Awards presentation on Thursday night. The Supreme Award winner will receive $15,000
and there are prizes for the best individual, group and organisation entries.
Last year?s winner of the Supreme Award was a streamlined system for treating people with stomach upsets which cut
waiting lists and reduced costs by $1.5 million for the Auckland District Health Board.
The Health Expo at Te Papa is free of charge and open to the public from 10.30am to 4.00pm.
Profiles of each of this year?s finalists are on the Health Innovation Awards website at:
www.healthinnovationawards.co.nz
The Awards presentation can be watched online from 7.30pm at www.healthinnovationawards.co.nz . From the homepage click
on News tab and then click on the Watch link.
ENDS