Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill

7 Health system principles

(1)

For the purpose of this Act, the health system principles are as follows:

(a)

the health system should be equitable, which includes ensuring Māori and other population groups—

(i)

have access to services in proportion to their health needs; and

(ii)

receive equitable levels of service; and

(iii)

achieve equitable health outcomes:

(b)

the health system should engage with Māori, other population groups, and other people to develop and deliver services and programmes that reflect their needs and aspirations, for example, by engaging with Māori to develop, deliver, and monitor services and programmes designed to raise hauora Māori outcomes:

(c)

the health system should provide opportunities for Māori to exercise decision-making authority on matters of importance to Māori and for that purpose, have regard to both—

(i)

the strength or nature of Māori interests in a matter; and

(ii)

the interests of other health consumers and the Crown in the matter:

(d)

the health system should provide choice of quality services to Māori and other population groups, including by—

(i)

resourcing kaupapa Māori and whānau centred services; and

(ii)

providing services that are culturally safe and culturally responsive to people’s needs; and

(iii)

harnessing clinical leadership, innovation, and technology to continuously improve services; and

(iv)

providing services that are tailored to a person’s circumstances and preferences; and

(v)

providing services that reflect mātauranga Māori:

(e)

the health system should protect and promote people’s health and wellbeing, including by—

(i)

adopting population health approaches that prevent, reduce, or delay the onset of health needs; and

(ii)

undertaking promotional and preventative measures to protect and improve Māori health and wellbeing; and

(iii)

working to improve mental and physical health and diagnose and treat mental and physical health problems equitably.

(2)

A health entity must, when performing its functions under this Act, be guided by the health system principles—

(a)

as far as reasonably practicable, having regard to all the circumstances, including any resource constraints; and

(b)

to the extent applicable to the health entity and its functions.

(3)

The Ministry must, when performing any activity authorised or required under this Act, be guided by the health system principles—

(a)

as far as reasonably practicable, having regard to all the circumstances, including any resource constraints; and

(b)

to the extent applicable to the Ministry.

(4)

The health system principles in subsection (1)(b) and (c) do not apply to Pharmac and the performance of its functions.