Health modernisation to support AoG systems consolidation

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth 

The government plans to consolidate dozens of separate digital systems into shared platforms to reduce duplication and improve services for New Zealanders, the deputy government chief digital officer (GCDO) says.

Myles Ward told Digital Health Week 2025 that the GCDO fully supports the new Health Digital Investment Plan and is working closely with health to ensure alignment with the All-of-Government (AoG) target state. 

Ward, who is serving on the governance board for the newly announced Centre for Digital Modernisation of Health, said the GCDO will also use developments in health to support system-wide improvements across all government services.

“This plan represents a significant step forward in modernising and rationalising New Zealand's digital health infrastructure," Ward told the conference.

“By aligning investment, building connected digital infrastructure, placing citizens at the centre of design, we can create a smarter, more resilient system that delivers real value to all of New Zealand.

“In health this means better outcomes for patients, more effective support for clinicians and enabling clinicians to innovate at the front.”

He said that government agencies operate 42 different technology approaches, creating complexity and fragmentation that affects their ability to share data and deliver seamless services.

"Too many agencies continue to invest in similar technologies and systems in isolation, resulting in duplication, fragmentation and unnecessary cost," Ward said.

Forward investment intentions of $13 - $15 billion have created "quite an unaffordable situation" under this fragmented approach.

The goal is to replace this with shared platforms and move from a siloed technology environment to a connected whole-of-government digital ecosystem.

Also, development of a decentralised system where people control their own data with digital identity as the cornerstone.

“When we look at digital identity, we are going to a decentralised approach whereby someone can issue their credential or identity based on what they want to do,” he explained.

Ward said that emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are becoming integral to how the government operates.

“We know from our recent surveys that almost every agency surveyed is now exploring AI in some form,” he told the conference. 

“The challenge that I put out there in the private sector is how you enable us to use that, how you give us the tools, how you give us the registries and how you support the training for us to be able to deliver it in the right way, as opposed to us trying to figure it out ourselves.”

Image: Deputy government chief digital officer Myles Ward speaking at Digital Health Week 2025

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

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

Read more National Systems & Strategy news

Return to eHealthNews.nz home page