National board to guide investments in digital health

Return to eHealthNews.nz home page

Picture: Minister of Health David Clark presenting at the HiNZ Conference 2019

eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

The Ministry of Health has established an interim Digital Investment Board to guide investments in digital health.

Health Minister David Clark gave a keynote presentation at the HiNZ Conference 2019 during Digital Health Week NZ in Hamilton, where he told attendees that he “strongly believes that digital health plays an increasingly important role in helping us to achieve our priorities in the wider health and disability system”.

He also spoke about the interim board, which he described as having a diverse membership to advise on important initiatives such as the national Health Information Platform.

“The full board will be established by mid next year to provide leadership and advice on how data and digital can transform the health system and prioritise investments,” Clark told attendees.

The board will also evaluate the Ministry’s Digital Health Strategic Framework that will deliver core parts of nHIP, he said.

He said a detailed business case for nHIP is being developed and is due to go back before Cabinet in February 2020.

That business case needs to be considered before making any further announcements, but the Minister is hopeful that development of the platform will start next year.

“While digital technologies can improve health and wellbeing, they can also exclude those who don’t have or can’t afford access to digital health,” said Clark.

He talked about the Ministry’s sponsored data pilot , working with Spark, Vodafone and 2degrees, to provide access to some websites free of charge to consumers.

“Health providers and consumer feedback has been positive, and the Ministry is working with the Department of Internal Affairs to establish sponsored data as an ‘all of government’ capability,” he said.

Clark also spoke about the opportunities for digital technologies to expand access to mental health and addiction services as well as address workforce shortages in the sector.

“Digital is critical to ensuring a strong and sustainable system. The government is committed to supporting and sustaining digital transformation in healthcare,” Clark told attendees.

He described the Health and Disability System Review process is a “once in a lifetime opportunity to reshape our health system”.

Clark referred to the review panel’s interim report, which “notes that advances in digital technologies have the potential to better support population and whānau-focused health and wellbeing”.

Read more about Digital Health Week NZ 2019

If you would like to provide feedback on this news story please contact the editor Rebecca McBeth .

Read more news:

Changing role for allied health professionals in digital future

Canterbury clinician wins new leadership award

Return to  eHealthNews.nz home page