over Government's plan to scrap DHBs
Health NZ, a single national agency, will replace the country’s 20 DHBs as the Government promises a better and more equal standard of care.
An additional Māori health entity will sit alongside Health NZ. It aims to improve the health policies and funding available for Māori who statistically suffer from worse health.
National remains critical of the changes, with the party’s health spokesperson Shane Reti saying the shift would create a “two-tier” health system. The party, though, agrees that those with the greatest needs should be met with access to the resources required.
Deputy Health Minister Peeni Henare disagreed, stating the new authority “had to be independent” in order to effectively improve the overall health of Māori.
“What we’ve also made clear is that the independent authority must continue to have leavers and influence across the wider health sector,” he told Q+A.
Link to videos and article: Health advocates cautiously optimistic over Government's plan to scrap DHBs | 1 NEWS | TVNZ
