Aotearoa NZ Healthcare System: Historical Context and Development

This report provides an overview of the health and healthcare system in Aotearoa New Zealand, tracing its evolution from 1938 to the present. It highlights the transition from a dual public and private provision under the Social Security Act 1938, to the establishment of Area Health Boards and Regional Health Authorities. The study emphasizes the restructuring of healthcare organizations, the separation of purchasing and provision of health services, and the ongoing reforms aimed at improving allocative efficiency and addressing equity concerns. It also notes the shift towards a more holistic approach to healthcare, ensuring accessibility irrespective of socio-economic status and geographic location, and the significant role of Non-Government Organizations in providing care.

Running head: HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE IN CONTEXT OF AOTEAROA NZ
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Health and Healthcare in context of Aotearoa NZ
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The European observatory on healthcare system can be termed as a unique project that
works on building a commitment in improving healthcare systems. The study provides a clear
similarity, despite the transition in healthcare infrastructure, the health systems are organized and
financed. As stated by Keene et al. (2016), the substantial difference in regards to disease pattern
emerges out as a leading cause that changes the approach towards healthcare. Between 1938 and
1983, the health system in NZ developed into a paired private and public provision under the
Social Security Act 1938. In 1983 to 1993, there was a gradual initiation of 14 Areas of health
boards that was financed by the population based formula (New Zealand health system reforms,
2018). The regional authorities of healthcare worked to make provision of funding as a
configured into the 23 crown health enterprise (che)
The HiT, stated that organizations in NZ are properly structured and further restructured
for better health provision. However, the domain of healthcare further split into primary,
secondary and even community care. Even the Non-Government Organizations were seen to
play major role in providing just the right amount of care to the people in need. Thus, the chosen
study provides clear understanding that NZ healthcare went under structural transition moving
towards centralized care. NZ healthcare improve allocative efficiency for producing cost
effective services. However, equity remains as one of major concern in NZ healthcare that is
evolving through public participation.
Earlier, the provision of care was limited to the physical wellbeing. However, the current
provision of care is highly holistic making it more sophisticated. The provision of healthcare is
made accessible to all irrespective of socio-economic standard and geographic location. Thus, it
can be conclusively stated that healthcare system in NZ evolved a lot since the previous decade

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Reference list
Keene, L., Bagshaw, P., Nicholls, M. G., Rosenberg, B., Frampton, C. M., & Powell, I. (2016).
Funding New Zealand’s public healthcare system: time for an hones t appraisal and
public debate. New Zealand medical journal (Online).
New Zealand health system reforms - New Zealand Parliament. (2019). Retrieved 17 August
2019, from
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/research-papers/document/00PLSocRP09031/new-
zealand-health-system-reforms