IT should remain centrally managed in health – Minister Reti

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

Some decision making in health needs to be devolved back to the regions, but IT should remain centrally owned, says Health Minister Shane Reti.

Te Whatu Ora Health NZ and Te Aka Whai Ora Māori Health Authority were created in July 2022 when the country’s 20 District Health Boards were scrapped to create a single national health system.

Reti told RNZ the reforms went too far and he wants to see care back in the regions, with local decision making.

“I won't bring the District Health Boards in the form that they were, but I am committed to delivering health care as close to the home and as close to the hapu as possible,” he said.

"There are some parts that need to be owned by the centre, but we need to be very careful because what has happened here is we have lost local accountability.”

You’ve read this article for free, but good journalism takes time and resource to produce. Please consider supporting eHealthNews by becoming a member of HiNZ, for just $17 a month.

The Minister said IT systems and terminology to ensure standardised codes were examples of what should remain centrally managed.

Reti also talked about the use of contractors and consultants in the health system and has told the Te Whatu Ora board that he expects their use to continue to decrease.

“We actually do need some consultants and contractors where we don't have expertise… but when they come in, they need to leave something behind: we can't bring them back the next month for exactly the same piece of work.”

He gave the example of IT projects and the need to leave residual knowledge in the system in order to lift public sector capacity.

Reti reiterated plans to scrap Te Aka Whai Ora, saying decisions were better in the hands of iwi and hapu.

He said the authority would be replaced by Māori directorates within Te Whatu Ora Health NZ and Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health.

The Waitangi Tribunal has granted an application for an urgent enquiry into plans to disestablish Te Aka Whai Ora.

To comment on or discuss this news story, go to the eHealthNews category on the HiNZ eHealth Forum

Read more National Systems & Strategy news

Return to eHealthNews.nz home page