One Year - Health

Delivering better health outcomes

We have invested a record $30 billion annually in health to drive significant improvements, with clear targets for transparency and accountability. 

Tackling priority areas

 Our focus is on addressing long-neglected issues and areas of greatest need. Priorities include delivering:

Faster cancer treatment.
Higher childhood immunisation rates.
Shorter emergency department (ED) wait times.
Quicker assessments and treatments for elective care.

Setting clear, ambitious targets

To drive progress and ensure accountability and transparency, we’ve introduced clear health targets to address our priority areas. The latest quarterly results show positive movement:

Cancer treatment - 83.5% of patients received treatment within 31 days of the decision to treat - up from 82.7%.
Emergency departments - 71.2% of patients were admitted, discharged, or transferred within six hours - up from 70.1%.
Elective treatment - 61.4% of patients waited less than four months for elective procedures - up from 57.7%.
First specialist assessments - 61.5% of patients waited less than four months for an assessment - up from 59.6%.

Boosting Pharmac’s funding

In June, we announced a $604 million funding increase for Pharmac over four years, enabling access to up to 54 new medicines. This includes up to 26 cancer treatments, expected to benefit 175,000 New Zealanders in the first year alone.

Fast-tracking international specialists

To address workforce shortages, we’re fast-tracking the recruitment of international specialists, particularly from the UK, Ireland, and Australia. This will make it easier and quicker for GPs, ED physicians, psychiatrists, dermatologists, anaesthesiologists, and more to join our medical workforce, with assessments completed within 20 working days.

Enhancing mental health support

We have boosted access to mental health and addiction services by strengthening the workforce, improving service effectiveness, and focusing on prevention and early intervention.

Building a healthier future

This year has been about laying the groundwork for a health system that works for everyone -  targeting resources, driving efficiency, and setting clear goals - so every New Zealander has access to quality, timely care.