Ministry of Health (New Zealand)
The Ministry of Health (Māori: Manatū Hauora) is the public service department of New Zealand responsible for healthcare in New Zealand. It came into existence in its current form in 1993. History Origins The Ministry of Health's origins can be traced back to the Department of Public Health, which was first established in 1901 at the advice of the Central Board of Health. The Department of Public Health assumed responsibility for the provision of Māori health services between 1906 and 1909, when Māori medical health services were returned to the-then Department of Native Affairs. In 1910, the Public Health Department resumed responsibility for the control of Māori health. In 1911, a Māori Nursing Service was established as part of the Department of Public Health. Growing strains Its structure remained relatively static even when the Social Security Act 1938 was passed 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. Fourth National Government, 1990–1999 During the 1990s the Fourth 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. Four regional health authorities (RHAs) were created to oversee the purchasing of health services while general practitioners, specialists, and hospitals were tasked with delivering health services. Public services were also turned into quasi-commercial Crown health enterprises (CHEs). In 1993, the Department was renamed as the Ministry of Health. Fifth Labour Government, 1999–2008 The Labour–Alliance coalition government redefined the role of the Ministry of Health as part of Labour's election promises in the 1999 election. In December 1999, 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. In February 2001, the Fifth Labour Government also launched the "New Zealand Primary Health Care Strategy" (PHCS) with the goal of improving public access to primary health care and reducing health inequalities. By 2008, the Primary Health Care Strategy had succeeded in reducing fees for doctors' and nurses' visits in "higher need areas" and for patients aged over 65 years. In addition, consultation rates increased across all age, socio-economic, and ethnic groups in New Zealand. As part of the PHCS programme, the Government encouraged the development of Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) to provide some primary health care services at the local level and to transition health care services