Hon Tony Ryall
National Party Health Spokesman
06 December 2006
Minister admits limited progress in healthcare
Labour's Primary Health Care Strategy is in desperate need of re-focusing, after the Minister of Health admitted little
progress in meeting many key objectives, says National's Health spokesman, Tony Ryall. In Parliament today, Mr Ryall
questioned the Health Minister, Pete Hodgson on his mid-year report to Cabinet on the achievements of the PHCS.
"Despite spending $1.2 billion on the strategy, Mr Hodgson has been forced to admit very little progress has been made
on the objectives to improve the quality of primary health care in New Zealand.
"Labour's PHCS offered the promise of multi-disciplinary teams, working proactively to improve overall quality and
co-ordination, with particular focus on chronic diseases. But it has failed to deliver. "The PHCS foresaw the primary
health care team expanding to a wider range of health professionals. Yet the latest Commonwealth Fund survey of primary
care physicians across seven countries, finds New Zealand general practice second to bottom for using multi-disciplinary
teams. And Mr Hodgson has admitted that any progress is limited to 'a small number of PHOs'.
"The strategy envisaged a wider range of services provided in a primary care setting, such as maternity, hospital
follow-ups and well-child. Yet Mr Hodgson has told Cabinet, co-ordination between primary care and hospitals is still
very weak.
"Mr Hodgson warned Cabinet of the rising risk of a further fragmented health system, with so many local areas doing
their own thing in information technology. He said the current performance 'lags behind the policy direction'.
"The Primary Health Care Strategy is in desperate need of re-focusing.
"Incentives are needed to encourage multi-disciplinary teams and more effective management of chronic conditions. These
new models of care might include a greater role for practice nurses and pharmacists, practices sharing expertise, and
improved information flows with secondary care and other providers."
ENDS