Monday 28th Feb 2000 Ken Shirley
Media Release -- Health
Restructuring in the health system must be postponed while an investigation's held into sky-rocketing costs predicted by
The Treasury, ACT health spokesman Ken Shirley said today.
"For five weeks the Labour Government has been sitting on information showing its health reforms have not been properly
costed, with a warning that high, unbudgeted costs may follow.
"Not knowing of The Treasury's concerns, we have been trying to warn the Government that its health restructuring had
not been thought through properly, but received only dismissive comments in return.
"Now the cat is out of the bag. Under the Official Information Act, the Minister of Finance has been forced to release a
report from The Treasury which says Government proposals to restructure the health system contain 'many outstanding
problems and operational and fiscal risks', Ken Shirley said.
"The Treasury is damning of the Minister of Health's plans. It says there are no cost estimates of implementing the
changes, no future running costs, and no examination of whether the proposed new district health boards may cost more
than the savings the new system is meant to make.
"Treasury also told the Government it was specifically concerned that the Minister of Health's proposals for changing
the health system do not relate to what it has said are its aims for the sector.
"I am writing urgently to the Minister of Health asking that she takes special note of the Treasury's findings and
postpone the health restructuring until its concerns have been worked through. We cannot just stand by and allow further
disruptions and upheaval to patients and staff while an uncosted, ideological programme is forced through against
official advice," Ken Shirley said.
ENDS
For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at
act@parliament.govt.nz.