Ministry of Health (New Zealand)
The Ministry of Health is the public service department of New Zealand responsible for healthcare in New Zealand.
The Ministry in its current form came into existence in 1993.
History
The Department of Health was formed in 1903 by the merging of other government departments. Its structure remained relatively static even when the 1938 Social Security Act was passed where the New Zealand government took a larger role in health purchasing. The department remained actively involved in policy.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.
Current role
The Labour-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, 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 Organisations 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 exist. These are responsible for hospitals and funding some health provisions in their respective areas . 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 . 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.
Structure
So-called "business units" of the Ministry include:- Chief Nurse
- Clinical Leadership, Protection and Regulation
- Corporate Services
- Māori Health
- National Health Board: The National Health Board, set up in November 2009, addresses issues such as rising costs, increased demand, an aging population and shortages of staff with a view to improving the quality, safety and sustainability of health care.
- Policy
- Sector Capability and Implementation
Ministers
The Ministry serves 1 portfolio and 4 ministers.| OFFICEHOLDER | PORTFOLIO | OTHER RESPONSIBILITY |
| Hon Chris Hipkins | Lead Minister Minister of Health | |
| Hon Jenny Salesa | Associate Minister of Health | |
| Hon Peeni Henare | Associate Minister of Health | |
| Hon Julie Anne Genter | Associate Minister of Health |