What risks has the Ministry of Health identified that current policy settings may fail to deliver equal life expectancy outcomes, and how is the Minister mitigating those risks?

Answer

My focus is on ensuring all New Zealanders receive timely quality healthcare and are treated based on their need. I am advised that life expectancy is a long-term measure influenced by access to timely, high-quality health care. The Ministry of Health has identified risks that universal policy settings, if not implemented in a targeted way, may not sufficiently improve outcomes for populations with the greatest unmet need. I am mitigating these risks by setting clear expectations for a needs‑based approach, strengthening performance monitoring through the Government’s health targets, and progressing the Māori Health Strategy to lift system performance and accountability for Māori health outcomes over time.