Notice Board - News

New Ministry of Health Structure commenced

Ministry of Health ,

A new Ministry of Health structure took effect on 1 July, along with new ways of working across the organisation and with the sector.

The changes to the internal structure and ways of working are being made to ensure the Ministry is well placed within the current health setting to build on past successes and to build a healthier future for all New Zealanders.

Director-General of Health, Stephen McKernan, says it is an exciting time for the organisation.

“The work we do going forward together as a whole organisation will ensure that we make a measurable contribution to better health and reduced inequalities for all New Zealanders,” Mr McKernan says.

The internal changes have been made in consultation with staff and form part of the Ministry’s Change and Development Work Programme, which has been set up to implement the recommendations of the 2006 Review of the Current State of the Ministry of Health.

“We have led significant changes in the Health sector - with the establishment of District Health Boards and Primary Health Organisations - and our internal changes and new emphasis on leadership means that as an organisation we are in a position to take a longer term view and to work more closely with the sector on key strategies and priorities. This approach will see us take a stronger role in leading the sector,” Mr McKernan says.

The structural changes implemented this month (July 2007) include the establishment of eight new Directorate groupings, to replace old Directorates. The new Directorate groupings are: Health and Disability Systems Strategy; Maori Health; Population Health; Sector Accountability and Funding; Sector Capability and Innovation; Information; Health and Disability National Services; and Corporate Services. A Change and Development Office, incorporating the Office of the Director-General will complement the new structure. Risk and Assurance functions remain unchanged.

Mr McKernan says it’s important to emphasise that structural change is just one element of the change and development process.

“The new organisation design is very much focused on building and supporting our visible leadership capability at all levels of the organisation. Strengthened leadership in the sector was one of the areas that was highlighted in the 2006 Review.”

Across-Ministry work focusing on the Minister’s priorities, as set out in the Statement of Intent 2007-2010, will be an important feature of our approach to working together and promoting leadership at all levels of the organisation.

“The benefits are that we will focus on priorities, and improve our work through better coordination and quality,” Mr McKernan says.

Sector points of contact with the Ministry are for the most part remaining the same at this stage. Any changes around contact people will be advised directly. The Ministry’s website is being updated to reflect the changes. A copy of the decision document Building a Healthy Future, along with the organisational chart are also available on-line.

For further information about:

The Change and Development Work Programme: www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/about-change-development-programme

The Ministry structure: www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/aboutmoh-structure

The decision document Building a Healthy Future is available at: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/building-healthy-future?Open