ABSTRACT

Priority setting in New Zealand operates within the framework of an internal market similar to that of the UK. Most large public hospitals have become crown health enterprises that operate like companies and make a profit. Certain operations, like liver transplants, are not performed in New Zealand and a fixed sum has been set aside each year to help people travel overseas for such procedures-currently, to Australia. In the past, area boards were expected to provide a comprehensive range of secondary care from the fixed sums they received. The regional health authorities (RHAs) are now working co-operatively to develop standardized assessment criteria and a system of priority ranking for access to services in key treatment areas. The booking system is to operate according to nationally agreed criteria so that patients are treated in the same way everywhere. Priority is to be based on the principle of patient need and ability to benefit from the procedure.