Health and Independence Report 2003
Director-General’s annual report on the state of public health
Date of publication: December 2003
Ministry of Health
ISBN 0-478-25877-1 (Book)
ISBN 0-478-25880-1 (Internet)
HP 3713
Citation: Ministry of Health. 2003. Health and Independence Report:
Director-General’s annual report on the state of public health.
You can read this report online in full text or download it in PDF format below.
Every day thousands of New Zealanders have contact with our health and disability support system, whether they are receiving care or treatment for illness or injury, engaging in activities to promote health, or receiving support to live full and independent lives.
Rarely, however, do many people consider such issues as how each individual contact or activity fits within the wider framework of the health and disability support system, the breadth and sheer complexity of services that are delivered, or how the activities of the system are impacting on the health and independence of New Zealanders.
This report provides a context for our individual encounters with the health and disability support system by exploring the strategies that guide the system, the scope of activity across the system, and the outcomes that are being achieved for New Zealanders. In so doing, this report accounts for the considerable investment of taxpayers’ money in the health and disability support system.
The 2003 Health and Independence Report builds on the approaches developed in reports of previous years. This report is required under section 3C of the Health Act 1956. This year, we have extended discussion of the many services that are delivered through examining four key parts of the health and disability support system: personal health services, public health services, mental health services and disability support services. The 2003 report also provides extensive discussion of outcomes of publicly funded health and disability support services, both in terms of their contribution to the health and independence of New Zealanders, and progress towards key strategic goals.
Two further innovations are notable in this year’s report.
Firstly, a stand-alone chapter explores Māori health status and the contribution of health services to Māori health.
Secondly, the final chapter of this report draws together summarised findings of evaluations and analyses of sector activities. Such evaluations provide critical information and direction to enable ongoing enhancements to the health and disability support system.
Readers are invited to comment on the content and direction of this report, and ways in which the report can be further enhanced in future years to maintain its relevance and usefulness. Please address these to:
Health and Independence Report
Sector Policy Directorate
Ministry of Health
PO Box 5013
Wellington.
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