Health Policy Questions Posed to Principal Political Parties

The following questions were posed to the political parties approached, if possible to the nominated Health Spokesperson

• What is your vision for the health industry for the next five years?

• How do you hope to achieve this?
• What key steps will you take to achieve this?
• What are the three key areas within your policy?
• Which three areas within your policy do you believe will have the most impact in terms of measurable health gain?

• What specific issues do you identify in the current system which you propose to address?
• Why do they need to be addressed?
• What results do you expect to achieve?

• What specific structure do you propose for the delivery of New Zealand health care?
• Where is the accountability in your proposed system?
• What are your plans for the Ministry of Health, Regional Health Authorities, Crown Health Enterprises, primary care, disability support?

• What do you identify are the key issues for each of the following?
  • Consumers / Patients.
  • Professionals.
  • Managers --- Crown Health Enterprises / Regional Health Authorities.
  • Planners --- Ministry of Health.

• In terms of management, what do you believe will specifically be changed?
• Do you plan to make radical changes to the purchaser/provider split?
• In your opinion, how will this produce more measurable health gain?
• How does the ratio between management and service delivery compare with other industries?
• Will you want to continue recruiting managers from outside health? Would you intend to up-skill health professionals with management skills as they have done in Britain?
• Does your party have any views on the current method of contracting for services used across New Zealand? Is there any intention to change this over the next three years? If so, will the change be driven centrally or from the regions?

• What will be the annual cost of health over the next five years? How will this be paid for?
• Where is investment required?
• Where can savings be made?

• How do you propose that further changes to the health system will be made? Who will lead these?
• How will you avoid frustration and demotivation?

• What role do you see for private funding / private insurance in public sector health?
• What are the issues for your party?
• What information issues do you identify?
• How will this area be addressed?

• Managed Care
  • Managed care means many things to many people; what do you understand by managed care? What is the future for managed care in New Zealand?
  • Do you see the balance changing from hospitals to the primary care system over the next three years? How will that change come about?
  • How will you achieve the necessary ’buy in’ from general practitioners? Will there be any incentive schemes for this group?
    
    
• Maori Health
  • What are your plans for addressing the needs of Maori and their aspiration to deliver the care required?
    
    
• Mental Health
  • Within the mental health field, do you believe that the Commission for Mental Health will succeed? Will your party change the planning and monitoring of services for this group?
  • What specific role do you see for health professionals in the planning and contracting for services?

• How would you summarise your plans for Health?
• Why should they be supported?