Health proposals and NZMA.
NZMA welcomes the opportunity for public debate over the degree to which the community should fund health care for all. It views the attempts to improve the integration of the health service with interest and hopes to enter a vigorous debate with government to ensure that the detailed proposals yet to be formulated will achieve the purpose we both desire. But the association is disappointed to see policies promoted that are often so reliant upon anecdote and a naive theory of economics. It is disappointing to see health policy altered so radically with so little analysis of facts. Waiting lists, as an example, are analysed with no statement of what proportion of hospital admissions are represented by waiting list patients. Part charges have been introduced in areas where there is no experimental justification for supposing that they will usefully alter patient behaviour. A more sophisticated approach is required. Some change must be sought in the so-called nonnegotiable part of the proposals.
National Assembly, New Zealand Medical Association, Wellington.
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D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D005380:Financing, Government; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D012955:Societies, Medical