Opt in/out National Preventive Health Monitoring via Wearables
The objective is to enhance preventive healthcare by using wearable technology to monitor health metrics, thereby reducing preventable diseases(diabetes, heart disease etc) . Actions include providing subsidies or tax incentives for health-monitoring wearables, particularly for at-risk groups. A national health score system will benchmark individual data anonymously against national averages, focusing on metrics like heart rate and sleep patterns. Privacy will be safeguarded by adhering to the NZ Bill of Rights Act, anonymizing data, establishing an opt-in process, and setting up an oversight committee for privacy compliance. Health professionals can access this data with consent for preventive care, and programs will increase digital health literacy.
Reforming Hospital Funding - Moving Beyond the Hotel Model
The goal is to shift hospital funding from rewarding occupancy to focusing on health outcomes, efficiency, and care quality. This involves transitioning to outcome-based funding, rewarding hospitals for metrics like recovery rates and patient satisfaction. Efficiency incentives will encourage reduced wait times and more outpatient care. A quality care index will tie funding to performance in infection rates and patient safety. Hospitals partnering with community health programs for prevention will receive additional funds. Transparency will be enhanced by public reporting of performance metrics, with funding also directed towards infrastructure upgrades and staff development.
Reducing Pharmaceutical Kickbacks and Promoting Balanced Treatment Options
This policy aims to minimize conflicts of interest by strengthening anti-kickback laws, mandating transparency of payments from pharmaceutical companies to healthcare providers, and incentivizing evidence-based prescribing. It will also fund research into natural and holistic treatments, establishing centers of excellence for integrative medicine to ensure these options are evidence-informed.
Supporting Evidence-Informed Alternative Cancer Treatments
The objective is to integrate alternative cancer treatments that show potential benefits into the current funding model, ensuring they complement conventional treatments through informed consent and scientific evaluation. This involves creating a research fund within the existing system for rigorous study of these treatments, including therapies like the use of hypobaric chambers. A national database will compile research outcomes to inform treatment decisions. Patients will have access to these treatments, like hypobaric chamber therapy, with full understanding of risks and benefits, with funding adjusted according to scientific evidence, patient outcomes, and income levels. Monitoring patient results will help in ongoing policy refinement. Regulatory oversight will ensure safety and prevent misrepresentation of treatment benefits. Educational initiatives will inform both public and professionals about the evidence for these treatments, including hypobaric chamber therapy's potential in cancer care. Periodic reviews will update funding for treatments, ensuring therapies like hypobaric chamber use are supported by new scientific data. This policy aims to blend alternative treatments into cancer care within the current funding framework, balancing patient choice with evidence-based practice.
Revaluation of Banned Drugs with No Clear Public Safety Concerns
This policy seeks to reassess drugs like hydroxychloroquine for potential reintroduction where no clear public safety concerns exist. An independent panel will review evidence, focusing on safety and benefits. Clear criteria for reinstatement will be based on scientific evidence and public health. If beneficial, a controlled reintroduction will occur, accompanied by an educational campaign on usage and safety.
Mirror Banning of EU-Banned Products for Public Safety
The aim is to align New Zealand's product safety regulations with the EU for public safety enhancement. Products banned in the EU for health or safety reasons will be automatically reviewed for a similar ban in NZ. A dedicated committee will monitor EU decisions, assess local implications, and conduct risk assessments. Transparency in decision-making and public consultations will precede bans, with updates to trade regulations to prevent market entry of banned products. Educational campaigns and enforcement strategies will be funded, allowing for exceptions only where NZ standards are met or exceeded.
These policies collectively aim to foster a health system that emphasizes prevention, transparency, patient choice, and international safety standards while respecting privacy and rights. Coordination across government, healthcare providers, and the community is essential for their effective implementation.
To streamline administrative processes within the New Zealand health system, reducing unnecessary workload on health workers, thereby allowing them more time to focus on patient care.
The policy will focus on digital transformation by implementing user-friendly electronic health records (EHRs) that auto-populate information and automated reporting tools to reduce manual data entry. Simplification and standardization will involve creating uniform documentation templates and simplifying forms by eliminating redundant fields. Administrative support will be bolstered by hiring and training non-clinical staff for tasks like documentation and scheduling, possibly outsourcing non-critical tasks. Regulatory and compliance processes will be streamlined by reviewing what tasks are essential, aiming to reduce or eliminate non-critical ones, and scheduling audits more efficiently. Technology and AI will be utilized for routine tasks like appointment scheduling and preliminary diagnostics, and robotic process automation for data management. Education and training will ensure staff can use new systems efficiently, supported by a change management strategy. Performance metrics will be established to monitor administrative time, with a feedback loop for continuous improvement.
Implementation: The strategy includes starting with pilot programs, reallocating funds to support this initiative, and ensuring legislative and policy support for these changes.
Review and Adjustment: The policy's impact will be regularly reviewed through both quantitative measures and qualitative feedback from health workers to make necessary adjustments.
This approach aims to create a more efficient healthcare environment, enhancing staff satisfaction and patient care quality.