Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the latest report into New Zealand’s health reforms shows a few benefits, but overall
once again demonstrates a lack of leadership by the previous Labour government.
The Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) report released today was commissioned by the previous government to provide an
independent assessment on health reform implementation, and Dr Reti says a significant number of the problems it has
uncovered stem from a lack of Ministerial oversight and political incompetence.
“This is the first MAC report I’ve received as Minister of Health and I want to firstly acknowledge our hard working
health workforce who have had to make the best of the previous government’s flawed ideology and management.
“Nobody questions the complexity involved in amalgamating 20 district health boards and eight shared services under one
national organisation of around 85 thousand people. However questions remain around the wisdom of removing all DHBs,
given the Simpson report suggested only a reduction.
“The previous government also brought additional problems on itself by implementing complicated reform in the middle of
a global pandemic,” Dr Reti says.
The report notes:significant ongoing pressures for community and primary care, including around access and sustainabilityconfusion over the role of ‘localities’ in the new systeman urgent need for an agreed public health operating modelrisk around Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora’s ‘transformation’ change being subsumed by operational challenges
“I do want to acknowledge positives, including delivery of last year’s Winter Preparedness Plan and a more effective way
of transferring patients between areas to get access to treatment, but overall, it’s clear that turning the health ship
around will take years of intensive work,” Dr Reti says.
“For that to happen, it’s going to mean putting workforce at the fore. Frontline health workers must have the resources
and support they need to provide effective health services.
“This coalition Government is committed to delivering solutions that provide better health outcomes for all New
Zealanders.
“National has committed to not going back to the DHB model - it’s too far down the process to go back. We are committed
to ensuring the health system is fit for purpose with a clear pragmatic direction and a focus on workforce, targets and
infrastructure.
“I would like to thank the Ministerial Advisory Committee headed by Sue Suckling for their work in producing this
report, with its insights.
“I’m now looking forward to seeing the progress the coalition Government will make in improving the health system for
all New Zealanders.”
The progress assessment was produced by the Ministerial Advisory Committee for health reform implementation and can be
found at Proactive release of reforms-related documents | Ministry of Health NZ