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https://theconversation.com/nzs-shift-to-more-private-health-care-will-likely-raise-costs-and-reduce-quality-what-the-evidence-tells-us-263416>
"Because Health New Zealand has refused to reveal how much it is paying private
hospitals to perform elective surgeries under a new government contract, it is
difficult to assess whether taxpayers are getting value for money.
The government has committed to an evidence-based, cost-effective health system
that provides equitable access to all New Zealanders.
At the same time, it is actively funding private health care and has directed
Health New Zealand to give ten-year contracts to private hospitals for elective
surgeries such as cataracts and joint replacements.
The government also recently designated Tend Healthcare as the first for-profit
primary health organisation, allowing it to contract directly with Health New
Zealand.
Private health care may seem alluring. Surely outsourcing services such as knee
replacements frees up public beds?
But while the government wants more services delivered by the private system,
studies from New Zealand and other high-income countries show private and
for-profit health care is less efficient and leads to poorer quality care.
Research in Europe also suggests private care doesn’t necessarily improve
health outcomes.
Experts in New Zealand and beyond have concluded health is not a commodity that
fits with market mechanisms, and private care doesn’t play out to benefit the
wider public."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
