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What specific economic benefits does Health NZ expect to result from a new ophthalmology outsourcing arrangement and how if at all will these be assessed? and 15 other questions

Answered 16 questions (2026)
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Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Questions

  • 16300

    What specific economic benefits does Health NZ expect to result from a new ophthalmology outsourcing arrangement and how if at all will these be assessed?

  • 16303

    What specific employment outcomes does Health NZ expect to result from a new ophthalmology outsourcing arrangement and how if at all will these be assessed?

  • 16306

    Does he believe it would be in the public interest for the fee schedules in publicly funded health outsourcing contracts to be withheld from the public under commercial sensitivity provisions, if so why?

  • 16307

    Will Health NZ publish the pricing schedules for procedures delivered under Commitment Contracts entered into as part of RFP P26-0398?

  • 16308

    What is the current price paid by Health NZ to private providers for a unilateral cataract procedure under existing outsourcing arrangements?

  • 16309

    Did Health NZ provide any advice that outsourcing ophthalmology to private providers would cost more than expanding public hospital capacity to deliver those services, and if so, what was that advice?

Show the remaining 10 questions

  • 16310

    What was the total amount paid by Health NZ, if any, to private providers for outsourced ophthalmology services in each of the last five financial years?

  • 16311

    What methodology, if any, will Health NZ use to assess whole-of-life value of nationwide outsourcing ophthalmology services?

  • 16312

    Will the fee schedules agreed with providers appointed to the Ophthalmology Panel (P26-0398) be publicly released, and if not, why not?

  • 16313

    Has Health NZ completed any analysis comparing the per-procedure cost of outsourcing ophthalmology services to private providers versus delivering those same procedures in the public hospital system, if so on what dates?

  • 16314

    Has Health NZ completed any analysis quantifying the expected savings from entering longer-term outsourcing contracts for ophthalmology, if so on what dates?

  • 16315

    Were any proposals for ophthalmology outsourcing received from providers outside New Zealand, and if so, how many?

  • 16316

    How many of the proposals, if any, received in response to RFP P26-0398 were from providers already contracted to Health NZ for ophthalmology services under existing arrangements?

  • 16327

    How many ophthalmology providers responded to RFP P26-0398 by close date?

  • 16328

    Did the Minister direct Health NZ to establish a national ophthalmology outsourcing panel, and if so, when?

  • 16330

    Did the Minister direct Health NZ to seek long-term contracts for ophthalmology outsourcing, and if so, when?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that Health New Zealand is progressing work to partner with the private sector to expand publicly funded ophthalmology services, ensuring more patients receive timely access to procedures such as cataract surgery. This Government is focused on delivery. Outsourcing is a practical, long-standing approach used by Health New Zealand under successive governments to make full use of available capacity, improve value for money, and reduce wait times - particularly in high-demand areas like ophthalmology. In my November 2025 Letter of Expectations, I directed Health New Zealand to establish long-term contracts with private providers to secure sufficient capacity. While I did not specify specialties, I am advised ophthalmology has been identified as a priority area. This is important in the context that between November 2017 and November 2023, I am advised that the number of patients waiting more than four months for an elective ophthalmology procedure grew by 4854%, and the total number of patients waiting grew by 101%. I am advised that analysis began in January 2026, with an open-market Request for Proposal process underway from March 2026. As this is an active procurement process, it would be inappropriate to comment on specific details. However, I am advised the process is focused on achieving cost-efficiency and system sustainability, including benchmarking private ophthalmology costs against internal delivery. I am further advised that detailed fee schedules are commercially sensitive and cannot be released. Health New Zealand also expects that these arrangements will increase ophthalmology capacity, support faster access to care, and complement the public workforce. Outsourcing remains a necessary and established part of planned care delivery, and operational decisions such as establishing a national ophthalmology panel appropriately sit with Health New Zealand. Further decisions will be communicated in due course.