Summary
The Ministry of Health’s Statement of Intent 2015–2019 identifies outcomes for the health system and the Ministry.
- New Zealanders live longer, healthier and more independent lives.
- The health system is cost-effective and supports a productive economy.
The Ministry has three high-level outcomes that support the achievement of the above health system outcomes.
- New Zealanders are healthier and more independent.
- High-quality health and disability services are delivered in a timely and accessible manner.
- The future sustainability of the health and disability system is assured.
The Statement of Intent outlines the strategic direction for the Ministry, work that will be undertaken to deliver priorities and how success will be measured. Success against the six national health targets is just one example of how the health system continues to improve outcomes for New Zealanders.
Priorities
The improved wellbeing and health of New Zealanders will be achieved by the delivery of services that are accessible, safe, individual- and family-centred, clinically effective and cost effective. The Ministry has a multi-faceted strategy, as is appropriate for a complex sector. The Ministry will:
1. contribute to the Government’s strategic priorities by:
- delivering Better Public Services in a challenging fiscal environment
- responsibly managing the Government’s finances
- supporting the Christchurch rebuild
- building a more competitive and productive economy
2. deliver on the Government’s cross sector priorities in the health and social sector arena:
- supporting vulnerable children, including reducing rheumatic fever cases and assaults on children
- social sector trials
- the Prime Minister’s Youth Mental Health project
- health targets
- Whānau Ora
- National Drug Policy
3. implement the Minister’s objectives for the sector:
- make services more accessible, including shifting services
- maintain wellness for longer by improving prevention
- reduce obesity – childhood obesity plan
- implement a diabetes plan
- improve the quality and safety of health services
- support the health of older people
- implement Rising to the Challenge
- Smokefree 2025
- therapeutic products regulatory regime
- make the best use of information technology (IT) and ensure the security of patients’ records
- strengthen the health and disability workforce
- support regional and national collaboration.
Erratum
Page 1, final line - the reference to section 49 of Public Finance Act 1989 (in the printed version of the publication) is an error and has been changed in the web version to the correct section 40 of that Act.