DHBNZ Primary Health Care Strategy Implementation Work Programme

National Strategic context

The Primary Health Care Strategy[1] outlined new directions in primary health care involving the development of PHOs, funding based on population needs rather than fee-for-service and a greater emphasis on population health. The new policy direction resulted in major structural and funding changes, but there is a consensus that more far-reaching development of primary health care is needed.

Key Directions of the NZ Primary Health Care Strategy
Work with local communities and enrolled populations Identify and remove health inequalities Offer access to comprehensive services to improve, maintain and restore people's health Coordinate care across service areas Develop the primary health care workforce Continuoysly improve quality using good information

International Strategic Context

Primary health care has taken the recent limelight on the international stage with the release of two reports – one from WHO[2] and the other an economic report from the OECD[3] with a focus on New Zealand. Both reports provide timely wisdom on issues and opportunities with primary health care delivery in New Zealand.

New Zealand is not alone is having a health care system that needs to change to meet future and demands. Key pressure points consist of rising public expectations, increasing health care technology, and demographic ageing of the population which will dramatically increase demand for people with chronic conditions. Impediments to change in primary health care include service fragmentation, hospital-centric health care systems, vested interests and misaligned incentives and payment systems.

Government priorities

The new National government has identified new policy directions for primary health care which include:

• Better, sooner, more convenient health care
• Reducing bureaucracy
• Enabling greater clinical leadership
• Coordinating services regionally to reduce duplication
• Devolving services from secondary to primary care
• Developing Integrated Family Health Centres
• Allowing clinicians to have direct access to diagnostics

DHBNZ is committed to working collaboratively with and on behalf of the 21 DHBs and the MoH on facilitating these policy directions.

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[1] Minister of Health. 2001. Primary Health Care Strategy. Wellington: Ministry of Health.

[2] WHO. 2008. Primary Health Care – Now more than ever. Geneva: WHO.

[3] OECD. 2009. Economic Survey of New Zealand 2009: Health care reform. Paris: OECD.

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Role of DHBNZ in Primary health care

The Primary Health Care Strategy Implementation Work Programme aims to work collectively to develop Primary Health Care Strategy, as follows –

Collective voice Provide a forum and structure to represent their interests of DHBs (e.g. PSAAP, national and regional Primary Health Care forums) Link with relevant national organisation to progress primary health care strategy on behalf of DHBs Facilitate national and regional meetings of programme managers to consider key policy and operational issues impacting on primary care Coordinate national comment on new MoH policies, contracts and service specifications
Collective projects Implement agreed national projects that support DHBs to develop quality primary health care services
Collective planning and action Develop an agreed annual, shared work programme with DHBs Keep abreast of changes in national policy and strategy Enable DHBs to take actions that are consistent with sector’s collective interests
Collective Learning Identify and promote innovation and best practice
Facilitation and Support Coordinate the flow of information related to primary health care and related issues with DHBs Provide primary health care expertise to DHBs, as appropriate

 

http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/phcs-iwp

Contact Details

Phil Back

Programme Manager

Primary Health Care Strategy Implementation Work Programme

027 520 8084