Professor Lester Levy has been appointed as the new Commissioner of Health NZ, with a focus on reducing waiting times, boosting productivity, and fostering compassion in the healthcare system. The announcement, made by the government on Monday, marks a significant shift in leadership and strategy fo
In a significant move, the Government has dismissed the Health New Zealand board, appointing a commissioner due to serious financial concerns. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti cited issues with oversight, overspending, and a “significant deterioration in financial outlook” as the primary reasons for th
Pseudoephedrine, a key component in cold and flu medications, is slated for an early return to New Zealand pharmacies. Medsafe has approved 11 products containing this ingredient for over-the-counter sales, potentially available by June this year—significantly earlier than the anticipated 2025 sched
The New Zealand government has recently boosted the National Travel Assistance scheme by $18 million to aid thousands of cancer patients needing to travel for treatment. This decision, praised by the Cancer Society, involves significant increases in reimbursement rates for travel and accommodation,
The Government needs to come clean about workforce shortages and staff and patient safety concerns at Southland’s mental health service, Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds says. “Te Whata Ora’s Southern Directorate Leadership Team has conducted a review into the impacts of workforce shortages, after loc
Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark is right behind the They Save, We Pay campaign protesting cuts to the new Dunedin Hospital, alongside the Dunedin Mayor. Jules Radich is heartened by the strong support he is seeing for the community campaign, including 10,000 signatures on the NZ Nurses Organisation p
Health practitioners dispensing natural therapeutic products could eventually face a number of restrictions under a new Bill before Parliament. But there has been backlash from several advocacy groups including Voices For Freedom, (VFF) that has made public its concerns over the Bill, saying that th
Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark believes the $20 million offered by the Government to developing countries for the loss and damage wrought by climate change should’ve been kept in our health system. His comments are in relation to the recent announcement by Health Minister Andrew Little on the $90 mi
