Ministry of Health releases the first PHO Yearbook

Media release

20 December 2005

Ministry of Health releases the first PHO Yearbook

A yearbook detailing the early progress and development of New Zealand's Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) has been published today by the Ministry of Health.

This first PHO Yearbook for 2004 uses information from PHO annual reports to show how PHO health services are developing, their enrolment numbers, community coverage and funding. The Yearbook has been jointly put together by the Ministry and District Health Boards (DHBs).

The Deputy Director General of clinical services, Dr Colin Feek, says the Yearbook looks at 42 PHOs' in their first full operating year, ending 30 June 2004.

"A new direction for this country's primary health care was introduced four years ago with the Primary Health Care Strategy which put a greater emphasis on population based health, the community and the involvement of a range of health professionals.

"Since then doctors, nurses and other health professionals have worked hard to ensure PHOs develop innovative and creative ways to address the health needs of their local communities," Dr Feek says. "Today across the country, there are 81 PHOs, covering the primary healthcare needs for 3.8 million people."

The Yearbook takes a look at PHOs on both a national and an individual level. It hasn't attempted to analyse or evaluate the services provided, or the way funding has been used. It is envisaged that future yearbooks will have more access to this type of information along with details about the services that have been provided by PHOs and utilised by the community, Dr Feek says.

There has been growth in the number of PHOs since the 2003/04 financial year, and so data about the current PHOs has been included in the Yearbook as an addendum to give an up to date picture.

This and future editions of the PHO Yearbook will provide an ongoing opportunity to share information and learning across the primary health care sector.

Copies of the PHO Yearbook 2004 can be downloaded from the Ministry's website at: www.moh.govt.nz/publications

Further information about Primary Health Organisations and the Primary Health Care Strategy is available at: www.moh.govt.nz/primaryhealthcare

Lucy Taylor
Media Advisor
Ministry of Health
04 496 2067
027 207 1406

Questions and Answers

What is a Primary Health Organisation?
A PHO is made up of a group of doctors, nurses and other health professionals who look after and provide the first level of health care to people in their community. Already most New Zealand general practices are part of a PHO.

How are they funded?
PHOs get a set amount of funding from the government to subsidise a range of health services.

The funding is based on each PHO's enrolled community (patients) and pays for care and treatment when people are ill; helping people stay healthy; reaching out to groups in the community who have poor health or who are missing out on primary health care. Funding is increasing over time to eventually reduce the cost of primary health care for everyone.

What's different about PHOs?
PHOs try to keep their enrolled community well and or treat patients early on in sickness. The idea is that PHOs see patients not only when they are sick. There are also a range of people working for a PHO and patients may have access to, for example, doctors, community nurses, nurse practitioners, a Maori health worker, a Pacific health worker, a community health worker, a dietitian.

Currently children under 6 years old are eligible for reduced cost doctors visits and free prescription medicines (whether or not their doctor is part of a PHO). People enrolled with any PHO and aged between 6 and 24 or who are 65 and over get reduced cost doctors fees and pay only $3 per subsidised prescription medicine.

Those belonging to Access PHOs - which serve populations with the worst health - receive these benefits no matter what their age. From July 2006 everyone aged 45 to 64 will be included and from July 2007 all enrollees in any PHO will be covered.

Will the PHO Yearbook become a regular publication?
Yes, a PHO yearbook will be published annually from now on.

Related information

Ministry of Health media releases

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