Health care in New Zealand

The health care system of New Zealand has undergone significant changes throughout the past several decades. From an essentially fully public system based on the Social Security Act 1938, reforms have introduced market and health insurance elements primarily since the 1980s, creating a mixed public-private system for delivering healthcare.

  • The Accident Compensation Corporation covers the costs of treatment for cases deemed 'accidents', including medical misadventure, for all people legally in New Zealand (including tourists). The costs are recovered via levies on employers, employees, petrol and vehicle registration, and contributions from the general tax pool.
  • The relatively extensive and high-quality system of public hospitals treats citizens or permanent residents free of charge and is managed by district health boards. However, costly or difficult operations often require long waiting list delays unless the treatment is medically urgent.[1] Because of this, a secondary market of health insurance organisations exists which fund operations and treatments for their members privately. Southern Cross Health Insurance, a non-profit organisation, is the largest of these at about 60% of the health insurance market and covering almost a quarter of all New Zealanders in 2007, even operating its own chain of hospitals.[2]
  • Primary care (non-specialist doctors / family doctors) and medications on the list of the New Zealand government agency PHARMAC require co-payments, but are subsidised, especially for patients with community health services cards or high user health cards.
  • Emergency services are primarily provided by St John New Zealand charity (as well as Wellington Free Ambulance in the Wellington Region), supported with a mix of private (donated) and public (subsidy) funds.
  • New Zealand has one of the highest nurse turnover rates.[3] Not all nurses leave the profession but rather continuously switch organisations. Not all the impact of nurses leaving is negative, but when it is it can cause reduced continuity of care, disruption of services, and a drop and overall productivity.

Ambulance vehicles of St John New Zealand at their Pitt Street, Auckland base

In 2012, New Zealand spent 8.7% of GDP on health care, or US$3,929 per capita. Of that, approximately 77% was government expenditure.[4] In a 2010 study, New Zealand was shown to have the lowest level of medication use in 14 developed countries (i.e. used least medicines overall), and also spent the lowest amount on healthcare amongst the same list of countries, with US$2510 ($3460) per capita, compared to the United States at US$7290.[5]

History of health care

Until well after European contact Māori used natural medicines and spiritual healing. Among the European colonists, professional medical care was expensive and most people diagnosed themselves or sought alternative treatment.[6] In the mid 19th century New Zealand's first public hospitals created by Governor George Grey and were available for those who could not afford a private doctor.[7][8]

The Public Health Act 1872 introduced local authority health boards. These were funded primarily by the local ratepayers and subsidised by the national government. There was still a large reliance on private charity to make up any shortfall. From 1909 poorer districts were given disproportionately more funding from the national government.[7] In 1938, the Social Security Act from the First Labour Government attempted to provide government funded healthcare to all. A free health system, with hospital and other health services universally available to all New Zealanders was the vision behind the Social Security Act 1938. This was never fully realised due to ongoing disputes between the medical profession and the Government. Health services evolved as a dual system of public and private health care subsidised through a series of arrangements known as the General Medical Service (GMS) benefits established in 1941. This remained largely unchanged until the late 1970s. From 1984 to 1993 the Labour then National governments introduced major changes designed to get area health boards (later Crown health enterprises) to imitate market forces.[7][9] User charges were introduced for prescriptions in February 1985 but broader controversial policies introduced by the Fourth National Government between 1991 and 1993 effectively ended largely free provision of primary healthcare, such services being targeted on the basis of income while Community Service Cards (introduced on 1 February 1992) provided additional support.[10][11][12] Public hospital charges of $50 for overnight stays were briefly implemented but was later abandoned as the 1993 election approached.[13]

New Zealand has had numerous public health campaigns and initiatives.[14] Children were given free milk between 1937 and 1967 but these were abolished due to budgetary constraints,[15] fluoride is added most drinking water in the country and there have been many anti-drinking (from the 1870s) and anti-smoking campaigns (from the 1960s).[16][17]

Structure

The Ministry of Health is responsible for the oversight and funding of the twenty district health boards (DHBs). These are responsible for organising healthcare in the district and meeting the standards set by the Ministry of Health. Twenty-one DHBs came into being on 1 January 2001 with Southland and Otago DHBs merging into Southern DHB on 1 May 2010.

The boards for each district health board are elected in elections held every three years, with the exception of one of the eight board members, who is appointed by the Ministry of Health.

The DHBs oversee the forty-six primary health organisations established throughout the country. These were first set up in July 2002, with a mandate to focus on the health of communities. Originally there were 81 of these, but this has been reduced down to 46 in 2008. They are funded by DHBs, and are required to be entirely non-profit, democratic bodies that are responsive to their communities' needs. Almost all New Zealanders are enrolled in a PHO, as there are financial incentives for the patients to become enrolled.

The Northern Region DHBs also use shared services provided by the Northern DHB Support Agency and HealthAlliance. These services deliver region-wide health initiatives and shared IT services and logistics.

The Canterbury District Health Board has been successful in redesigning services to reduce hospital use. Some of this transformation was precipitated by the 2011 Christchurch earthquake when several healthcare buildings were damaged or destroyed. It now has lower rates of acute medical admissions, low average lengths of stay, fewer readmissions in acute care, fewer cancelled planned admissions and more conditions treated out of hospital.[18]

Public vs. private payment

Hospital and specialist care in New Zealand is totally covered by the government if the patient is referred by a general or family practitioner and this is funded from government expenditure (approx. 77%).[4] Private payment by individuals also plays an important role in the overall system although the cost of these payments are comparatively minor. Those earning less than certain amounts, depending on the number of dependents in their household, can qualify for a Community Services Card (CSC). This reduces the cost of after-hours doctors' visits, and prescription fees, as well as the cost of visits to a person's regular doctor.

Injuries which occur as a result of "accidents", ranging from minor to major physical but including psychological trauma from sexual abuse are generally covered by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). This may include coverage for doctors visits and lump-sum payments.

Waiting lists

In New Zealand's public health system it is typical for medical appointments, particularly surgeries to have a waiting list. District Health Boards are typical judged in the media and by government in part based on the length of these lists. In 2016, it was inferred that many people required surgery but were not put on the official list.[19] Research projected that of all the people who had been told they needed surgery less than half were on the official list. However, the main concern noted by health industry observers was the overall increase in waiting time, about 304 days.[20]

Telehealth

In 2018 the Northern Region district health boards, Northland, Waitemata, Auckland and Counties Manukau developed a telehealth system with a unified video, audio, content sharing and chat platform provided by Zoom Video Communications which is intended to lead to a more integrated health system in the Northern Region. This should enable real-time consultations between clinicians in hospital, primary care and the community, and between patients and their care providers.[21]

Healthcare organisations

The list of well-known Healthcare organisations in New Zealand are:[22] – Geneva Healthcare – Counties Manukau Homecare Trust – Healthcare of New Zealand Holdings Ltd – Healthvision – Life Plus Ltd – Healthcare NZ – Royal District Nursing Service New Zealand

Abortion
Main article: Abortion in New Zealand

Abortion is legal upon request in New Zealand.[23] According to figures released by Statistics New Zealand, the number of abortions rose from 8.5 per 1,000 women aged 15‒44 years in 1980 to 14 per 1,000 women in 1990. By 2000, this figure had risen to 18.7 per 1,000 women aged 15‒44 years but has since declined to 13.5 per 1,000 women as of 2018.[24]

Medications

The Pharmaceutical Management Agency of New Zealand (PHARMAC) was set up in 1993 to decide which medications the government will subsidise. In general, PHARMAC will select an effective and safe medication from a class of drugs, and negotiate with the drug manufacturer to obtain the best price. There are approximately 2,000 drugs listed on the national schedule that are either fully or partially subsidised.

In a sample of 13 developed countries New Zealand was thirteenth in its population weighted usage of medication in 14 classes in 2009 and also in 2013. The drugs studied were selected on the basis that the conditions treated had high incidence, prevalence and/or mortality, caused significant long-term morbidity and incurred high levels of expenditure and significant developments in prevention or treatment had been made in the last 10 years. The study noted considerable difficulties in cross border comparison of medication use.[25]

Sildenafil was reclassified in New Zealand in 2014 so it could be bought over the counter from a pharmacist. It is thought that this reduced sales over the Internet and was safer as men could be referred for medical advice if appropriate.[26]

Emergency service
Main article: Emergency medical services in New Zealand

Most emergency and non-urgent ambulance transportation is carried out by the charitable organisation St John New Zealand. In Wairarapa and the Wellington Region ambulance services are provided by the Wellington Free Ambulance organisation.[27]

See also

References
  1. "OECD iLibrary: Statistics / Health at a Glance / 2011 / Waiting time of four months or more for elective surgery". Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  2. Hudson, Alice (14 October 2007). "Health cover under the knife". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  3. Buchan, Professor James (July 2018). "Policy Brief: Nurse Retention" (PDF). International Centre on Nurse Migration. p. 5. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  4. "WHO Statistical Information System". World Health Organization. Retrieved 23 September 2008.
  5. Johnston, Martin (30 July 2010). "NZ ranks last in medicine use and lowest health spender". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  6. Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Primary health care – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  7. "New Zealand Health System Reforms". Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  8. Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "1. – Hospitals – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  9. Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "5. – Primary health care – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  10. Community Service Cards Authored by Steve Maharey, former Minister of Social Development
  11. New Zealand Parliamentary Debates, 19 September 1985, pg 6,971
  12. Healthcare
  13. "Linda Bryder, 'Hospitals – Hospital funding and patient entitlement', Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  14. McLintock, Alexander Hare; Francis Sydney Maclean M. B., B. CHIR; Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "PUBLIC HEALTH". An encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, 1966. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  15. "End of free school milk | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  16. Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "4. – Public health – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  17. "The history of tobacco in New Zealand". Cancer Society NZ. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  18. "International examples of prudent approaches to healthcare". Public health Wales. Prudent Healthcare. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  19. "Who is missing out on surgery? Government releases first figures of 'phantom waiting list'".
  20. "Thousands missing out on surgery, funding boost fails to make dent in 'phantom waitlists'".
  21. "Northern district health boards in New Zealand implement new cloud-based telehealth service". Healthcare IT News. 13 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  22. http://www.hcha.org.nz/find-a-provider/region/auckland
  23. "New Zealand passes law decriminalising abortion". BBC News. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  24. "Abortions". Statistics New Zealand. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  25. Office of health Economics. "International Comparison of Medicines Usage: Quantitative Analysis" (PDF). Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  26. "Viagra from the pharmacist: insight from reclassification in New Zealand". Pharmaceutical Journal. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  27. "Ambulance services". www.stjohn.org.nz. St John. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
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