Development of Primary Care Organisations in New Zealand

The Development of Primary Care Organisations in New Zealand
Date of publication: November 1999

Overview, aims and definitions

This review documents the major recent developments in general practice and primary care. More than 80% of GPs are now members of primary care organisations (PCOs). The review is seen as a contributing to the development of a national primary care policy and strategy.

The objectives of the review were to develop a descriptive overview, classification and a preliminary analysis of PCOs; identify gaps in the information needed to evaluate PCOs; and provide insights into the possible future of PCOs within the New Zealand health system.

PCOs are defined as organisations which provide comprehensive, generalist care with primary medical care as the core service, and which have a contractual relationship with the Health Funding Authority (HFA).

Four main organisational categories of PCOs have been identified: independent practitioner associations (IPAs), contracting practices, loose networks and community owned and driven agencies. IPAs are distinguished by the fact that they are co-ordinated over multiple sites and practices while contracting practices have a single practice base. All PCOs, except loose networks, have resource management contracts with the funder.

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