Private Health Contracts Advance Govt's Health Privatisation Agenda
Stripping money out of the public health system to pay private, for-profit providers will not solve the Government's underfunding of health, Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says.
"The long-term result of outsourcing to private providers will continue to weaken the provision of public health care by starving it of funds, giving the Government a further excuse to privatise more and more healthcare.
"The plan to contract to private hospital long-term is ushering in the privatisation of the health system, which will inevitably mean syphoning money off from providing health services for all to pay profits to private corporations. This will result in only those who can pay being able to access adequate health care and other vital services.
"The Government wants to drive us towards a US-style health system where the private sector dominates and sick people without health insurance are left at hospital doors.
"The Minister says he is unapologetic about his directive, but the directive was kept under wraps for months.
"If you judge the Government by its actions not its words, it is clear this lack of transparency is cover for privatisation by stealth of public health care.
"Public health services belong to all of us and are there to deliver for people not shareholders.
"Privatisation will also mean that the workers who deliver quality public, health services will see their livelihoods threatened by redundancies and reduced pay and conditions," Fitzsimons says.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
13 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Inside Operation Gold Rush, the largest healthcare fraud bust in US history
Gerald Quindry was facing a quandary. The 73-year-old retired engineer received a statement last year that Medicare, his health insurance provider, had been billed US$15,500 ($25,432) for urinary catheters – but his doctor had never ordered them, and Quindry never wanted nor received them. Quindry complained to Medicare.
Scoop
13 hours ago
- Scoop
Greater Certainty For New Zealanders With Cancer
New Zealanders with cancer will have greater continuity of care from today, following Pharmac's decision on amending pharmaceutical schedule rules to allow access to new publicly funded cancer medicines in private hospitals and clinics. From 1 July 2025, when Pharmac funds a new cancer medicine or widens access to existing funded cancer medicines, eligible patients will be able to receive their medicine within private hospitals or clinics for a period of up to 12 months, without having to move their care to a public hospital. 'This decision will provide greater continuity of care for New Zealanders with cancer,' says Pharmac's Director Strategy, Policy and Performance, Michael Johnson. In the past, patients whose cancer medicines became publicly funded during their treatment found themselves having to transfer their treatment to a public hospital to access publicly funded medicines or else continue their private treatment and self-fund the costs. 'This change will allow these patients to benefit from newly funded cancer medicines, while maintaining their current treatment plans,' Johnson says. To be eligible, patients must already be receiving treatment at the date that their cancer medicine becomes funded by Pharmac, or have an approved treatment plan, and are about to start treatment at the date that their medicine becomes funded. This policy applies only to newly funded cancer medicines after 1 July 2025. To support the Government's decision to enable transitional access to publicly funded medicines in private settings, Pharmac consulted on rule changes to the pharmaceutical schedule between 26 May – 13 June 2025. 'While most people were supportive, we have listened to feedback and have decided to change the way we plan to implement this decision,' Johnson says. Pharmac initially proposed that private facilities would be able to obtain the funded medicine from public hospitals, as private hospitals are not currently able to make subsidy claims for cancer medicines. 'However, people told us this approach wouldn't work and would likely lead to patient safety risks due to double handling of medicines, process differences between public and private, and incompatibility of administration kits,' Johnson says. 'People told us they would prefer for private facilities to directly order cancer medicines and submit subsidy claims to Pharmac. We've listened to this feedback and have decided to change the way we plan to implement this decision,' Johnson says. Initially, Pharmac will work with private facilities to implement a direct payment arrangement for the cancer medicines that fall under this policy. Pharmac will in the future look to work with private facilities, Health NZ and suppliers to
Scoop
15 hours ago
- Scoop
First Ever National List Of Medical Devices Now Live
New Zealand's first ever nationwide list of medical devices, effective from today, will support better patient care and enable long term investments in medical devices, Pharmac's Director Medical Devices Catherine Epps says. Pharmac has been building a list of all medical devices currently used in public hospitals as it works to improve the way medical devices are managed in New Zealand. Medical Devices help people get the best health care possible. They are things like bandages, gloves, hospital beds, pacemakers, hip implants, and even advanced equipment like MRI and X-ray machines. 'Medical Devices are so important to the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders. Nearly everyone who receives health care in New Zealand will interact with a medical device,' says Epps. Pharmac's Comprehensive List of Medical Devices, effective from 1 July, brings greater transparency to what's used and funded in public hospitals. This will support consistent access, reduce duplication, and improve equity across the country. This list represents medical devices covered by Pharmac's contracts with suppliers, and medical devices used by hospitals that aren't covered by Pharmac contracts. 'For the first time in New Zealand's history, we have a nationwide list of medical devices used by public hospitals,' Epps says. Epps says having a comprehensive list of medical devices will support better patient care. 'When hospitals have the right medical devices at the right time they can deliver better health care, which can result in shorter stays in hospital and better health outcomes for patients,' Epps says. This list will also support hospitals to better plan and invest to meet the needs of the communities they serve. It will also improve transparency by showing what devices are used or funded in public hospitals. 'Having a complete list of what is used will allow the health system to make more strategic, long-term investments in medical devices.' Pharmac consulted on the comprehensive list from 11 February, until 31 March 2025. 'We asked suppliers and public hospitals to help us finalise a national list of medical devices currently used by Health New Zealand hospitals,' Epps says. Pharmac staff carefully reviewed all feedback received during the consultation process. As a result of this consultation process, over 26,000 medical devices used in public hospitals have been added to the comprehensive list. 'This represents a historic milestone for the management of medical devices in New Zealand,' Epps says. 'Ultimately, this comprehensive list lays the foundation for a single national list from which public hospitals will select their medical devices, ensuring the best possible health outcomes for New Zealanders.'
