Primary Health Care

Relationships with the Sector

PHOs have been the main vehicles through which the Primary Health Care Strategy has been implemented and are funded by District Health Boards (DHBs) to provide essential primary health care services to their enrolled populations.

The New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 established 21 District Health Boards and gave them overall responsibility for assessing the health and disability needs of communities in their regions, and managing resources and service delivery to best meet those needs. The Primary Health Care Strategy provided District Health Boards with the direction for working with local communities and primary health care providers to establish PHOs, to improve the health of New Zealanders and reduce inequalities.

Since the establishment of the first PHOs in 2002, the sector has achieved significant progress with implementation, meeting the Primary Health Care Strategy's key priorities for early action. This included establishing PHOs and enrolling populations.

The focus has now moved from the establishment phase to concentrating on delivering on the central aims of the Primary Health Care Strategy, which include reducing inequalities, engaging communities, and improving the prevention and management of chronic conditions.

The Primary Health Care Strategy Implementation Work Programme sets the direction for the next phase of implementation. It sets out a new way of working for the health sector and in particular focuses on the roles and relationships of PHOs and DHBs. There is a greater emphasis on the broader multidisciplinary primary health care team, and the involvement of Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) in PHOs.

Related Links:
Health and Disability Non-Government Organisations

Page last updated: January 2007