How does the operation of PHARMAC's 'Community Exceptional ...

Health Strategy and the Primary Health Care Strategy and the Pacific Health
and Disability Action Plan (Health-Reforms-2001-Research-Team, 2003).
The proposed legislation disestablished the HFA which had been the funding
and purchasing arm of the public health service. Hospital Health Services
(HHS) boards which administered the public hospitals before 1999 were also
disestablished.
In their place the Ministry of Health was given the key role in monitoring the
funding, performance, planning and reviewing the health needs assessments
carried out by the 21 DHBs. The Ministry of Health continued in the role of
providing policy advice and ministerial services to the Minister of Health.
The DHBs under the new arrangements were to have a majority of members
elected by public election triennially and added to by other ministerial
appointments. The Minister wanted to provide for a balance of experience and
cultural input onto the DHB to balance the need for community participation and
respect for the Crown’s partnership with Maori.
The Bill made it clear that the Board members were responsible to the Minister
of Health for setting the strategic direction of the DHB. They were not primarily
responsible to the electorates who had elected them. They were also
specifically directed to be responsible for appointing and monitoring the
performance of the Chief Executive. The Boards were required to ensure the
DHB acted in compliance with all laws, financial accountabilities (especially to
keep the DHB solvent) and the reporting requirements as a Crown Agent.
Recognition of The Treaty of Waitangi
Part 3 of the Bill adopted measures that recognised and respected the Treaty of
Waitangi. The Bill presented to parliament, declared that in order to recognise
and respect the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, Part 3 provided for
mechanisms to enable Maori to contribute to decision making and to participate
in the delivery of health and disability services (King, 2000a). The Preliminary
Provisions of the Bill (s3[3]a) also stated that no person would be entitled to
preferential access to services on the basis of race.
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