New Zealand
Planned rationing may be needed to deal with the “burning platform” of unsustainable hospital services, writes a Christchurch surgeon in an NZMJ editorial. He says rationing has long been part of NZ’s health system, such as PHARMAC and surgical waiting lists, but there isn’t any coordinated, explicit rationing of acute hospital demand, which is outstripping available resources for "elective" services such as cancer care. A collective approach is required, he argues, with processes like transparent decision-making, an appeals process, and strong public engagement. In concluding, he questions the ethics of a health-privileged generation seeking to delay death despite the costs.
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