Prioritising Health and Disability Support Services: Principles, Processes and Problems

Publications
Prioritising Health and Disability Support Services: Principles, Processes and Problems

Date of publication: February 1999

Summary
Publication availability

Summary
An evaluation by the New Zealand National Health Committee (NHC) of the “principle-based approach” proposed by the Health Funding Authority (HFA) for prioritising health and disability services.

The principle-based approach involves identifying the extent to which services contribute to policy goals of maximising effectiveness, minimising cost, promoting equity of outcome, and improving Māori health. Public acceptability of the services purchased is also essential.

The NHC review looked over and evaluated frameworks, principles, and methods for priority setting at the service or programme level; it critically assessed the proposed HFA prioritisation process, including its practical application; it assessed the process for a range of services, with a particular focus on personal health, disability support, and public health services; and it recommended changes to the prioritisation process, alternative methods of prioritisation or alternative tools for use in prioritisation, if necessary.

The report concludes that although the NHC does endorse the principle-based approach, that should not imply prioritisation can be undertaken by means of any simple formula. It also recommends that because some aspects of the principle-based approach are not fully formed, the HFA must proceed cautiously with its use and it outlines what it considers essential to that cautious approach.

Publication availability
This publication is available in PDF format below:

Prioritising Health and Disability Support Services: Principles, Processes and Problems (PDF, 185 KB)

Go to information about downloading publications