Gareth Morgan Publishes Prescription For NZ

Gareth Morgan Publishes a Prescription to NZ’s Health System

In 2009 Gareth Morgan and Geoff Simmons published the book Health Cheque. This was the result of nine months of independent study on the state of our health system. Morgan found that our local health system scrubbed up well on a global comparison, but added “it is clear that there is a big mismatch between the public's expectations and what the health system can actually deliver.”

Simmons says that “demand for healthcare keeps growing but there are not sufficient resources – workforce, beds, or money—to keep pace. Some hard calls need to be made in the future to keep the system afloat and make sure care goes to those with the greatest need and ability to benefit”

Since publishing Health Cheque, Morgan and Simmons have been overwhelmed by the response from patients, hardworking doctors and nurses in the public health sector. Gareth says that “the health workers want to see our health system working more efficiently, effectively, and fairly and are frustrated with everything that gets in the way.”

Given this reaction they decided that they couldn’t let this issue drop. They have now written a follow up book called A Prescription for Health; three priorities that can make our health system better.

Morgan outlines the three priorities as;

Managing Demand – reducing the pressure for more treatment, particularly where that treatment yields little in the way of health benefits. This is one area where Government policy is currently not focused.

Rational Prioritisation – where should we focus our limited healthcare workforce and budget? The Government is making some changes here by asking the National Health Committee (NHC) to advise on new treatments. This is a step in the right direction, but could go further.

Greater Efficiency of Service Delivery – we need new ways of delivering healthcare, particularly in provincial areas.

ENDS

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