A beacon towards equity
In launching the new system Health Minister Andrew Little today said it was the first day in improving outcomes for everyone across New Zealand and a beacon towards equity.
He said while it was clear our health system had to change the Covid pandemic underlined this when it came to decision making, leadership and delivery.
"I think the future is exciting but even on the first day of this new system it is an opportunity to be seized," he said.
The challenge was now laid down for those in leadership to make it work and for it to be better than previously, he said.
Little also described it as "a step or two closer" to tino rangatiratanga when it came to health.
He said while we would always need hospitals there was more that could be done to keep people well before they fell ill and this was an important objective of the reforms.
Little today paid tribute to outgoing director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield who he believed would go down as one of the greatest public health leaders in New Zealand's history.
Bloomfield described it as a special day and a significant opportunity to strengthen and improve the health system.
He said despite previous challenges, our health system protected our people and stood up a world-leading response to Covid-19.
He said the new health system would see a new model of leadership in that focused on an invitation to collective action.
And he had great faith in the leaders of the new system that would see high quality health care delivered to all.
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