Primary Health Care

Establishment

Background
Publications

Background

PHOs have been the main vehicles through which the Primary Health Care Strategy has been implemented. PHOs are the local structures for delivering and coordinating services; bringing together general practices and other primary health care services in the community to serve the needs of their enrolled populations. All PHOs must provide essential primary health care services to their enrolled populations that aim to improve, maintain and restore health and ensure access to care.

The first PHOs - Te Pasefika Health Trust and Te Kupenga O Hoturoa in the Counties Manukau DHB region - were established in July 2002. PHO establishment occurred very quickly and there are now 81 PHOs around the country with approximately 3.9 million New Zealanders enrolled (95 percent of the population).

PHOs are funded and monitored by their local DHB. Prior to establishment, prospective PHOs work through the operational steps necessary to become a PHO with their local DHBs.

Any primary care providers considering establishing a new PHO should contact their local DHB.

Publications

The following documents were developed to guide DHBs and prospective PHOs through the operational steps required to become a PHO.

Following the launch of the Primary Health Care Strategy, the Minister of Health released a set of Minimum Requirements for PHOs to guide the establishment of PHOs which set out the minimum standards that a PHO must meet.

The Guide for Establishing PHOs was published in April 2002 as a resource for DHBs and providers and communities to use for planning primary health care locally and working to set up PHOs. It explains what PHOs are, what they will do, and covers some key considerations in their establishment.

The Establishment Service Specifications for Essential Primary Health Care Services provided by PHOs, was published in September 2002 and specifies the services that all PHOs must provide. It covers definitions, objectives, service components, access, quality and reporting.

A PHO establishment checklist (PDF, 93 KB) and PHO establishment workplan (Excel, 139 KB) were also developed to guide DHBs and prospective PHOs through the process.

Page last updated: January 2007