New Zealand Ministry of Health
Encyclopedia
The Ministry of Health (Manatū Hauora in Māori), formerly the Department of Health from 1903 to 1993, is a department of the New Zealand
government. This is the channel through which the government channels its funding for health services, VOTE: Health.
The ministry is overseen by the Minister of Health
in the New Zealand government cabinet
. The current Minister of Health is Tony Ryall
.
By the 1970s problems had appeared in the health system. The high growth rate in hospital expenditure was occurring at a time when the economy was slowing down. Thus, the government was unable to sustain funding this growth.
This led the health system to undergo a series of changes over a 20 year period from the 1980s. During the 1990s the National
government attempted to stream-line the system in a series of reforms such as separating the government purchasing and provision of health care services. During this time the department was renamed as the Ministry of Health.
-Alliance
coalition government redefined the role of the Ministry of Health as part of Labour's election promises in the 1999 election
.
The separate government health service purchasing entity, the Health Funding Authority
, was merged with the Ministry of Health. Critics were anxious as to how the Ministry would perform as a funder, as they commented that the Ministry had in the past only performed as a policy organisation. However, supporters of this move stated that they believed this would make these agencies more accountable.
The Ministry of Health funds public health promotions such as smoking cessation and immunisation programmes http://www.immunise.moh.govt.nz/, as part of the New Zealand Primary Health Strategy will move towards funding universal access to primary care services for New Zealand citizens. In 2003 the Ministry of Health began forming Primary Health Organisation
s in an effort to move health care services from fee-for-service arrangements to capitation funding for health professionals who are members of these organisations.
District Health Boards were formed in 2001 as a subsidiary organisation of the Ministry. As of 2005, 21 different District Health Boards (DHBs) exist. These are responsible for hospitals and funding some health provisions in their respective areas http://www.moh.govt.nz/districthealthboards. 75% of VOTE: Health goes to the District Health Boards of New Zealand. Funding for these DHBs is allocated according to the Ministry's population-based funding formula http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/238fd5fb4fd051844c256669006aed57/262d2106244fe595cc257093000ac48e?OpenDocument. The District Health Boards can be considered much like the board of trustees of a school, some members are elected while others are government-appointed.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
government. This is the channel through which the government channels its funding for health services, VOTE: Health.
The ministry is overseen by the Minister of Health
Minister of Health (New Zealand)
The Minister of Health is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the New Zealand Ministry of Health and the District Health Boards.The present Minister is Tony Ryall, a member of the National Party.-History:...
in the New Zealand government cabinet
New Zealand Cabinet
The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...
. The current Minister of Health is Tony Ryall
Tony Ryall
Anthony Boyd Williams "Tony" Ryall is New Zealand politician. He has represented voters and the National Party in the New Zealand Parliament since 1990. Since November 2008 he has served as a cabinet minister, holding the posts of Minister of Health and Minister of State Services...
.
History
The Department of Health was formed in 1903 by the merging of other government departments. Its structure remained relatively static even the 1938 Social Security Act where the New Zealand government took a larger role in health purchasing. The department remained actively involved in policy as opposed to purchasing.By the 1970s problems had appeared in the health system. The high growth rate in hospital expenditure was occurring at a time when the economy was slowing down. Thus, the government was unable to sustain funding this growth.
This led the health system to undergo a series of changes over a 20 year period from the 1980s. During the 1990s the National
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
government attempted to stream-line the system in a series of reforms such as separating the government purchasing and provision of health care services. During this time the department was renamed as the Ministry of Health.
Current role
The LabourNew Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
-Alliance
Alliance (New Zealand political party)
The Alliance is a left-wing political party in New Zealand. It was formed in 1991, and was influential in the 1990s, but has since declined and has no representation in parliament. It suffered a major setback after Jim Anderton, the party's leader, left the party in 2002, taking several of the...
coalition government redefined the role of the Ministry of Health as part of Labour's election promises in the 1999 election
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
.
The separate government health service purchasing entity, the Health Funding Authority
Health Funding Authority
The Health Funding Authority, now defunct, was a New Zealand government entity responsible for funding of public health care in New Zealand between 1997-2001...
, was merged with the Ministry of Health. Critics were anxious as to how the Ministry would perform as a funder, as they commented that the Ministry had in the past only performed as a policy organisation. However, supporters of this move stated that they believed this would make these agencies more accountable.
The Ministry of Health funds public health promotions such as smoking cessation and immunisation programmes http://www.immunise.moh.govt.nz/, as part of the New Zealand Primary Health Strategy will move towards funding universal access to primary care services for New Zealand citizens. In 2003 the Ministry of Health began forming Primary Health Organisation
Primary Health Organisation
Primary Health Organisations , in New Zealand, are health care providers that are funded on a capitation basis by the New Zealand Government via District Health Boards...
s in an effort to move health care services from fee-for-service arrangements to capitation funding for health professionals who are members of these organisations.
District Health Boards were formed in 2001 as a subsidiary organisation of the Ministry. As of 2005, 21 different District Health Boards (DHBs) exist. These are responsible for hospitals and funding some health provisions in their respective areas http://www.moh.govt.nz/districthealthboards. 75% of VOTE: Health goes to the District Health Boards of New Zealand. Funding for these DHBs is allocated according to the Ministry's population-based funding formula http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/238fd5fb4fd051844c256669006aed57/262d2106244fe595cc257093000ac48e?OpenDocument. The District Health Boards can be considered much like the board of trustees of a school, some members are elected while others are government-appointed.