Public Health Initiative in New Zealand: Role and Responsibilities of Public Healthcare

This article discusses the public health initiative in New Zealand and the role and responsibilities of public healthcare. It identifies, compares, and contrasts any NZ public health initiative in relation to the three core areas of public health. It also explains and critiques the role of public health services in NZ.

Professional Practice and
Legislation

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Identify, compare and contrast any NZ public health initiative in relation to the three core
areas of public health..............................................................................................................3
Health promotion and Subsidised general practice visit for Public health services in New
Zealand enrolled patients........................................................................................................4
Health protection and subsidised general practice visit.........................................................5
Health prevention and subsidised general practice visit.........................................................5
Identify, explain and critique the role of public health services in NZ..................................5
Differentiate the role and responsibilities of public healthcare in NZ...................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Public health intervention refers to an organized effort for promoting specific habit and
behaviour to improve mental, physical or emotional health. These intervention includes
vaccination, screening, health promotion, water supplementation and food. There is discussion
about three core principle of public health which includes promotion, protection and prevention
are the health concern (AlAbbasi, 2021). There is also discussion about critique about the role of
health services in New Zealand. This includes legislation to influence and regulate the provision
of public health by government. There is also discussion about two ethical principles which is
influenced or regulated by the government along with decision making within public health
services in New Zealand. There is also discussion about roles and responsibilities of public
healthcare within New Zealand. There is also significance of Treaty of Waitangi within New
Zealand (White, (2019)).
Identify, compare and contrast any NZ public health initiative in relation to the three core areas
of public health
There are various public health initiative which that can help to provide a detailed
analysis. The chosen public health initiative is access to health care. This is the government
initiative which has been taken to improve the participation to get better healthcare access for
better and improved health within New Zealand. There are various discussion about this
initiative which includes the what are done to improve the access to public health care (Elwell-
Sutton, 2017).
In this, government provides subsidised for having improved public health care in New
Zealand that comprises of the Vote Health that totals just over $16.142 billion in 2016/17
(Alston, 2021). Along with this other significant funding is also made by the government sources
that include the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), other government agencies, local
government, and private sources such as insurance and out-of-pocket payments for the general
practice visits for enrolled patient (Heenan, 2021). This one is implemented to increase the
participation within access to healthcare by influencing every individual to access to general
practitioner and primary care services. Government funds for this to ensure that everyone get
better access to general practitioner to receive primary healthcare services (Morton, (2020)).
There are many population who don't have the access to healthcare due either have charges to

access to general practitioner. This is the one in which government has made subsidy for the
large population of New Zealand which was to make an impact and easier to get access to
general practitioner. This made more benefits to people and also decrease the chances of worse
health condition due to any disease which has not diagnosed at time. This create the impact of
getting. In this, initiative to get the benefits there is need to enrol with PHO which is free of cost.
People who are enrolled with PHO are illegible for receiving essential primary services of
healthcare. In this initiative there were about 94% of population get enrolled with primary health
organisation (Liang, 2018). Due to this initiative almost all the general practice are now part of
PHO. Through using the website individual can get ensure about their case whether their case are
related with general practice or not. This initiative has made high impact over the large
population and due to this there are more than 90% of people have access to general practitioner.
This made is highly beneficial for the public health of New Zealand. This initiative has create
awareness on large scale and due to this, people of New Zealand are taking this benefits and able
to access to healthcare for their better health (AlAbbasi, (2021)).
There are three key principles of public health which includes Health promotion, health
prevention and health protection. These are the principle that can help to focus on impact of
public health initiative which can help to get better access to healthcare. There is comparison and
contrast of this initiative with principle of public health which are going to be discussed further
(Loo, 2020).
Health promotion and Subsidised general practice visit for Public health services in New Zealand
enrolled patients
This is the initiative which has taken into consideration to make aware and possible to get better
health care access for large population that can allow every individual for better healthcare
access. This is the one which made people to get benefits for their health concern. Health
promotion refers to process and discipline which have the focus to empowering communities nad
people to take their control on health and well-being. Health promotion is the key principles
which allow to make awareness about the better and improved health. For which there are many
initiative and intervention are taken by New Zealand government which allow them to get
educated regarding their better health (Mandlik, 2021). Health promotion is the reason which
allow government to take such type of various initiative that can help to get better access to
healthcare who are enrolled with public health organisation. Health promotion promotes and

made awareness about the taken initiative within large population and this initiative allows
everyone to take benefits of this initiative for better access to general practitioner (Tenforde,
(2020)).
Health protection and subsidised general practice visit
Due to getting benefit through this initiative this allow to get protection regarding health and
better healthcare access that is affordable for everyone. This initiative offer visit to general
practitioner at very low cost and due to this large population is now using this initiative for their
better health. This use allow them to focus on the their health protection which is the response of
using initiative in public health (Tenforde, 2020). It has been seen and analysed that it is free to
enrol with a general practice in the New Zealand but they may have charge a consultation fee
each time when a patient goes to see them after that. Further, the general practices with the
public health care of the New Zealand are normally charge a higher fee, often called a casual
rate, for patients that aren't enrolled with their practice (Morton, 2020).
Health prevention and subsidised general practice visit
Health prevention is the response of getting better access to general practitioner which
allow individual to diagnose before any sign or symptoms get worse and leads to chronic disease.
This is the one which allows to focus on the better response (White, 2019). When public get
access to general practitioner with less cost then they are able to focus on health prevention when
there is any type of sign or symptoms get observed. This allow to early intervention of any
disease which lead to health prevention form any disease which may get worsen over time
(Elwell-Sutton, (2017)).
Identify, explain and critique the role of public health services in NZ
There are various legislation that are govern, regulated and influence the provision which
is related with public health concern in New Zealand. There is discussion about some of the
legislation along with their critiques.
Health Act 1956- This is an vital Health act where promoting, improvement and
protecting public health function to ministry of health. There is a critique about this act is that
this act is not able to take care of the personal information effectively which is matter of
confidentiality and keeping record. This act doesn't take care of the sharing of personal and
health related information. There should not be any type of breach of confidentiality about the

patient. There is also critique related with consent which is regarding getting approval through
patient which is highly required (Alston, 2021). This Health act, 1956 is vital and significant as
to provide and support an improved framework for having a structured uniform health system
within the public health care of New Zealand along with taking into account the obligations
imposed by the Constitution and other laws on the national, provincial and local governments
with regard to provide improved health services (Elwell-Sutton, 2017).
For example- When any patient get to receive healthcare services there is need to get
consent form patient regarding their treatment and should keep the proper record of the patient
information. There is chance that there is need to take responsibilities of the appropriate response
which should be there not any type of mistake that should not any type of misplacement
regarding making record (Loo, (2020)).
Privacy Act 2020- This is the act which has been established to provide the framework
for protecting and to promote individual privacy within healthcare. This is regarding establishing
certain principles that respects the collection, disclosure, use and access to patient information
which is applied on both public and private sector (Heenan, 2021). There is the critique that there
is enough protection that during emergency when individual need to the past report then in such
situation there is need to take many permission form various authority. Which is not possible
during emergency (Liang, 2018). Implication and adoption of the privacy act has been within the
public health care of the New Zealand as this act strengthens privacy protections and also
promotes early intervention and risk management by agencies along with enhancing the role of
the Privacy Commission to protect the rights and personal Information of the patients (Loo,
2020).
For example- When there is patient with cardiac arrest in healthcare premises then there
is need for the medical history of the patient. Health 'camps' or campus are basically the one of
the strategies adopted by both government and non-government organization within an area to
carry out a limited health intervention for the public. In such condition, there is need to take
authorisation from the concerned one which is time taken process and needed more time
(Mandlik, 2021).
There are many ethical principles that government, influence and regulate the provision
and decision making in public health services in New Zealand. There are some of the ethical
principle which are going to be discussed further with their critiques (Morton, 2020).

Principle of Beneficence- This is the ethical principle which is government regulate and
influence for decision making regarding ppublic hhealth sservices where it provide
understanding for delivering best services with positive benefit like removing harmful condition,
good health for the patient. There is critique that, this principle have the primary obligation to
focus on positive duty for patient benefit and promote wellbeing. This helps to avoid harm to
patient and provide better condition for rescue person in danger. It also provides benefit to
patient for promoting their welfare (Tenforde, 2020).
For example- When any patient have chances of any harm and then healthcare
professional should prevent that harm and rescue person from danger for their better health.
When patient have the chances of cardiac arrest due to complication of any medication then it
should be avoided and inform patient about this health risk which is required to share by the
healthcare professional to take patient form danger (Mandlik, 2021)).
Principle of Nonmaleficence- This is the ethical principle which is governed and
regulated by government for influencing decision making in public health sservices. This
principle provides obligation to physician for not to harm patient. There is a critique that
physician should not cause pain or suffering to the patient and should not kill the patient. They
should also can't cause any danger. It is regarding benefit against any burden of treatment to the
patient. It also help to decide end of life and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment (White,
2019). The principle of the Nonmaleficence is vital within a public health care practice as it
comprises of the obligation of a physician that it would not to harm the patient in any form.
Thus, this principle simply stated and supports several moral rules with the health acre services
comprises of do not kill, do not cause pain or suffering along with do not incapacitate, do not
cause offense, and do not deprive others of the goods of life (Alston, 2021).
For example- When any patient come to hospital for treatment then nursing staff or health
care professionals should not harm patient intentionally and ensure about avoiding risk and
should avoid negligent care of patient (Elwell-Sutton, 2017).
Differentiate the role and responsibilities of public healthcare in NZ
Responsibility refers to health care services where healthcare professional should ensure
about conducting of assurity about any services. Whereas, Role describe about the process to
take in action of responsibility. There are various roles and responsibility of Public Health Care

within New Zealand which are going to be discussed further along with their comparison (Liang,
(2018)).
Responsibility Role
Assuring about adequate local Public health
infrastructure allowed to maintain capacity for a
well functioning of public health system like
utilisation and data analysis which includes policy
development health planning analysis and decision
support.
To address need and concern with an
individual for proper delivery of
healthcare services among large
population for thier better and improved
health (Heenan, 2021).
Promoting health community and health behaviour
for improving health of large population through
changing policy and investing in healthy family.
There is also responsibility for addressing health
equity issues along with social determinants of
health.
They have the role to monitor detect and
investigate disease outbreak that can
cause illness. There should also ensure
about the safeguarding about drinking
water and quality of food along with
indoor air.
Preventing spread of communicable diseases that
can caused by infectious agent. It is necessary to
detect prevention and transmission of disease along
with detecting infectious disease (Heenan, (2021)).
They have the role for assisting and
support in healthcare professional for
proper delivery of healthcare services to
the patient for their better health.
Protection against health hazard related with
environment where it is necessary to monitor water
quality, care and focusing on developing policies
and program to reduce the health risk and to
promote healthy environment.
It have the role to develop and
maintenance of organised system to
provide protection and improving health
of citizens.
Preparing respond to emergency allowed to
respond on any incident or event to ensure
recovery. Should response in community by
exercising action for safety and driving response
They have the role to diagnose detect and
providing effective treatment for patient
better health to improve healthy
community and Society.

plan to avoid the threat and to maintain better
health.
There are various significance of Treaty of Waitangi concerning role of Public Health
Care in New Zealand which are going to be discussed. Role of public health care is to provide
better healthcare service delivery to their patient to ensure that healthcare professional work
together and help to improve their better health. This is the significance of Treaty of waitangi
which have the responsibility to ensure that patient and nurse should work together to improved
and better health outcomes (Liang, 2018). This is regarding delivery of services provided by
healthcare professionals within New Zealand. This also involve Mauri community for allowing
them to get better healthcare services and better treatment in order to improve health. Working
with nurses allowed to better diagnosis of disease and provide information with related concern.
It also allows to get effective treatment for their improved health. The Treaty of waitangi also
allows to maintain organisational system within healthcare premises for providing protection and
improved health for people of New Zealand (Alston, (2021)). It have also significance to
assisting and supporting healthcare professional for improved delivery of healthcare services.
Public health care have the role to provide better delivery of healthcare services by improving
quality that can allow individual to get better health care services for better and improved health
to large population within New Zealand. The Treaty of Waitangi allows large population to work
with health care professional in such a way that it can provide improved outcome for delivery of
healthcare services and their response. This allow health care professional to focus on quality of
care which have better outcome in regards of improved health. This is highly effective and fulfill
the role of Public Health Care with significance of the Treaty of Waitangi (Loo, 2020).
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that there are various public health
intervention and initiative which are taken by government of New Zealand for better health of
the large population. It also provide key principle in public health which can allowed to focus
focus on public health initiative for better access to healthcare. There are various role of public
health services within New Zealand which includes different legislation where critiques are
discussed for improved information. There are the various ethical principle that have been
influenced and governed by government in decision-making with in Public Health Services. In

this report, there is discussion about roles and responsibility of public health care. This report
also consist of various significance of Treaty of Waitangi with the role of Public Health Care in
New Zealand. This provide information about taking benefit through this document that allows
take participation with health care professional for better and improved health outcome and
many other advantage with better outcomes.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
AlAbbasi, (2021). Implementation and effectiveness of drive-through medication pick-up and
home delivery services. A patient safety initiative during COVID-19 pandemic. Journal
of Patient Safety and Risk Management, 25160435211009038.
Alston, (2021). Australian and New Zealand social workers adjusting to the COVID-19
pandemic. The British Journal of Social Work.
Elwell-Sutton, (2017). Factors associated with access to care and healthcare utilization in the
homeless population of England. Journal of Public Health, 39(1), 26-33.
Heenan, (2021). Te reo Māori and botanical nomenclature as complementary naming systems for
New Zealand’s flora. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1-32.
Liang, (2018). Development and validation of health service management competencies. Journal
of health organization and management.
Loo, (2020). Personalized medical information card for adults with 22q11. 2 deletion syndrome:
An initiative to improve communication between patients and healthcare
providers. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 33(6), 1534-1540.
Mandlik, 2021). Obesity and health care interventions: substantiating a multi-modal challenge
through the lens of grounded theory. Health promotion journal of Australia: official
journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals, 32(2), 274-284.
Morton, (2020). A multimodal intervention for improving the mental health and emotional well-
being of college students. American journal of lifestyle medicine, 14(2), 216-224.
Tenforde, (2020). Outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy synchronous
telemedicine: a survey study of patient satisfaction with virtual visits during the COVID-
19 pandemic. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation.
White, (2019). Evaluation of a self-care intervention to improve student mental health
administered through a distance-learning course. American Journal of Health
Education, 50(4), 213-224.