Incoming Minister of Health Tony Ryall intends to "open the books" to reveal the true state of hospital waiting lists.
He says waiting lists, cutting bureaucracy, addressing workforce needs, and funding 12 months of Herceptin, are top priorities.
Mr Ryall says the former Government culled 30,000 people from waiting lists for non-urgent surgery but it's hard to know how they're doing because many are not included in the current records.
He says New Zealand needs a clear picture of waiting lists - and hopes to make a year's worth of Herceptin available to women by the end of the year.
Mr Ryall says there's been an "inexorable rise" in the number of managers and administrators and enough's enough. Radio New Zealand's health correspondent says he won't talk about job losses, but resources must move from the back office to the front line.
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