New Zealand Health and Disability Sector: The Organisations

Organisation briefing to the Minister of Health
New Zealand Health and Disability Sector: The Organisations

ISBN 0-478-25526-8 (Internet)

Originally published: August 2002
This version: December 2004

Introduction

This document provides a description of many of the organisations in the New Zealand health and disability sector (the sector) and the statutory duties as Minister of Health in respect of these organisations. The discussion also describes the international agreements and international contacts that impact on the structure and operation of the sector and your responsibilities as Minister.¹

The controlling legislation and associated organisations

The organisational features of the sector are dominated by the provisions of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (the Act) and the Health Act 1956. The Act outlines your duties as Minister and the role and functions of District Health Boards (DHBs) and the Ministry of Health (the Ministry).

The Act also establishes or otherwise provides for the existence of the National Health Committee, New Zealand Blood Service, Pharmaceutical Management Agency, Residual Health Management Unit, and various ministerial committees. Other Crown entities in the sector, such as the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand, Health Research Council, Health Sponsorship Council, and Mental Health Commission, have their own specialist legislation.

Agencies outside the sector

Several organisations under the jurisdiction of your ministerial colleagues are also germane to your role as Minister of Health.

In particular you will need to understand the interactions between the Ministry of Health and the Accident Compensation Corporation, Specialist Education Services, the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, the Work and Income service delivery arm of the Ministry of Social Development, and the Office for Disability Issues within the same Ministry. You also need to be aware of the biosecurity functions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry for the Environment.

The sector is more than formal organisations

This document concentrates on the statutory institutional arrangements governing the operation of the sector. However, these arrangements and the organisations they give rise to are only a part of the sector.

As Minister of Health you also need to be mindful of the wide range of advocacy and consumer groups, and healthcare provider and health professional groups, in the sector. The nature of your and the Ministry’s relationship with these groups, especially those groups representing providers and health professionals, is central to the effective operation of the sector. You also need to remain mindful of the importance of the work of non-governmental and voluntary groups.

The Ministry has multiple roles

The complexity of the sector is reflected in the complexity of the role and the scale of the expenditure administered by the Ministry of Health.

In 2004/05 the Ministry will administer close to $10 billion in expenditure, be responsible for enforcing over 110 pieces of specialist legislation and regulations, and administer important subsidy payments to primary care providers and health consumers. The Ministry will also have a strategic role in working with the sector and ministers to develop and implement policy to improve the health of all New Zealanders.

Document availability

This publication is not available in hard copy. It is only available on this website in Word and PDF formats below.

New Zealand Health and Disability Sector: The Organisations (Word, 530 kB)

New Zealand Health and Disability Sector: The Organisations (PDF, 798 kB)

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Read our copyright information

1 Information about the organisations that make up the sector is also available in The Health Sector: The New Zealand Directory, published by Health Sector Publications, and The Health and Disability Sector in New Zealand: A Directory, published by the Ministry of Health. The first of these titles includes extensive information about consumer, provider and health professional groups, while the Ministry’s publication focuses on the formal institutions in the sector. Both publications are updated on a regular basis.