Eighty years of failed health reforms in New Zealand

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-04-16 00:01

New Zealand

Zhen Hu / Unsplash

More than eight decades of health reform have failed, and the current landscape of public and private healthcare interests is unstable, say two Kiwi researchers in a new commentary. Future reform, they say, must improve equality of access and outcome, for example by quantifying how much borrowing the system can support. They argue institutions should be arranged to get the best incentives for providers and funders to improve health outcomes for people whose health needs are not being met.

Media release

From: New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA)

The political economy of healthcare reform: why New Zealand has experienced 82 years of ineffectual reforms and what can be done about it

Murray Horn, Des Gorman

Summary

Universal healthcare, based on there being no cost for consumers, was partially realised in New Zealand in 1938, but an unresolved dispute with the medical profession meant that primary care remained privately provided. Escalating costs and inequality of provision have subsequently triggered multiple reviews and reforms. However, starting with the establishment of Area Heath Boards in 1983, none of these largely structural changes have either lasted or been able to fundamentally address these cost and equity issues in a sustainable manner. Given we seem imminently destined for yet more structural change, it is important to ask why these reforms have not been successful.

Journal/
conference: New Zealand Medical Journal

Organisation/s: University of Auckland, Horn Consulting

Funder: N/A

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