There needs to be more accountability at the Health Ministry following a damning report on its performance, says a leading family doctor.
Dr Kate Baddock Photo: RNZ / Karen Brown
The report by the State Services Commission - released yesterday - rated the Ministry's financial sustainability, leadership and management as 'weak'.
Health Minister David Clark said the report highlighted a ministry which was really struggling.
Medical Association chair Dr Kate Baddock told Morning Report the Ministry needed performance measures that held people, organisations, communities and cultures to account.
"If you're going to use public funds for anything, you need to be accountable for those public funds, and we need to see that line of accountability more clearly defined."
'The report damns a lot of aspects of how the Ministry of Health has been performing' - Dr Kate Baddock
Dr Kate Baddock said better accountability measures would also lead to a focus on health outcomes and an improvement in health equity.
The release of the 85-page report came after the resignation of the Ministry's head, Chai Chuah, on Monday.
The Ministry achieved a "weak" rating in numerous areas, notably fiscal sustainability in health; implementing the Health Strategy; improving health outcomes; collaboration and partnerships; operations, and in leadership, governance, values, behaviour and culture.
Other areas, including workforce development, were rated as needing development.