Statement of Intent 2007–2010

Part 4: What the Ministry Does

Table of Contents:

From the Minister

Part 1: Introduction and Health Context

Part 2: The Government’s Priorities

Part 3: The Ministry’s Vision and Outcomes Framework

Part 4: What the Ministry Does

Part 5: Measuring the Ministry’s Progress

Part 6: The Ministry’s Strategy: ‘Better Health for All’

Part 7: Financial Information

References
The Ministry of Health is the Government’s primary advisor on health policy and disability support services. The Ministry’s core functions are:

• strategy, policy and system performance – providing policy advice on improving health outcomes, reducing inequalities and increasing participation, nationwide planning, facilitating collaboration and co-ordination within and across sectors
• servicing Ministers and ministerial advisory committees
• monitoring and improving the performance of Crown health entities including District Health Boards (DHBs)
• funding and purchasing of health and disability services on behalf of the Crown including maintenance of service agreements, particularly for public health, disability support services and other services that are retained centrally
• administration of legislation and regulations, and meeting legislative requirements
• information services
• payment services.

The Ministry is able to influence improvement in health outcomes across a range of areas, and in doing so depends on relationships with the many and varied parts of the health system and with the public sector.

How does the Ministry affect the lives of New Zealanders?

The Ministry affects the lives of New Zealanders throughout all aspects of a lifetime. Table 1 provides a snapshot of Ministry activities that affect the lives of New Zealanders in some way in any given year.

Table 1: How the Ministry of Health affects New Zealanders

	Examples of what the Ministry does
Pregnancy	Funds lead maternity carers Implements the Universal Routine-offer Antenatal HIV screening programme	Implements the Government’s health policies Implements He Korowai Oranga by specifying the pathways for achieving improved whānauora, Māori whānau supported to achieve their maximum health and wellbeing. This includes supporting Māori participation at all levels of the health and disability sector including Māori health providers Promotes Healthy Eating – Healthy Action Funds smoking cessation Designates, trains and guides public health officers to prevent the spread of infectious diseases Issues drinking-water standards Funds disability support services, public health services, the clinical training of some health practitioners (after university), and others Administers legislation on safe health facilities, safe health practitioners, drug control, smoke-free environments, health emergency management, and others Drafts replies to 6500 parliamentary questions and letters to the Minister from members of the public Provides over 1600 written briefings and health reports to the Minister and Associate Ministers of Health Pays 90 million claims per year from pharmacists, primary health organisations,etc. Responds to approximately 700 requests for official information from members of the public Collects health data and analyses health information Funds DHBs and monitors their performance Funds other statutory bodies (Crown entities and ministerial committees) Reviews and evaluates health services Works with other government agencies on across-government initiatives such as the reduction of family violence
Birth	Implements the National Metabolic Screening Programme (the heel prick) Manages the newborn hearing screening programme
Childhood	Designs and implements the: well child framework on the content and frequency of childhood checkups Ready for School check National Immunisation Programme community-based child and adolescent oral health service
Youth	Leads suicide prevention Designs and implements chlamydia screening Develops and implements policy to reduce alcohol-related harm
Adulthood	Manages the National Cervical Screening Programme Manages BreastScreen Aotearoa Implements Like Minds Like Mine Manages the 10% increase in the number of people receiving elective services
Older age	Advises on the income and asset testing legislation and new models of care Designs assessment tools Funds disability support equipment
Death	Administers legislation on burials and cremations Designs and administers legislation on the collection, use and disposal of human tissue, including whole organs