Creating pathways to support Hauora Māori and health equity in the future NZ health system

Summary

This transcript discusses the potential of the new health system and the Māori Health Authority in addressing health inequities. The speaker outlines how the Māori Health Authority will partner with key organizations like Health New Zealand and the Ministry of Health to co-commission services, improve Māori health models, and gather data to eliminate disparities. The speaker emphasizes the need for better use of information, increased funding for research, and development of an implementation science approach. Collaboration, ongoing focus on inequities, and systematic approaches to cultural safety are also highlighted as critical to achieving success in the health reforms.

Takeaways

• 😀 The new health system and the Māori Health Authority aim to address inequities in healthcare, focusing on data, research, and partnerships to improve outcomes for Māori communities.
• 😀 The Māori Health Authority has a broad strategic partnership role in designing, delivering, and evaluating national policies, strategies, and outcomes for Māori health.
• 😀 Collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Health New Zealand, and Māori Health Authority will focus on setting national strategy, monitoring outcomes, and advising ministers.
• 😀 The Māori Health Authority will co-commission services for Māori, work on health workforce development, and foster innovation in Māori models of care.
• 😀 A key opportunity is to intervene across the healthcare sector to eliminate inequities, using data and research to identify the causes of these inequities.
• 😀 Current inequities are seen in preventable conditions, hospitalizations, mortality, and quality of care, with multiple small points of inequity contributing to larger health disparities.
• 😀 There is a need for more research on Māori-specific interventions and understanding how inequities occur across healthcare pathways to effectively address them.
• 😀 Implementation science is a growing field that can help understand how interventions are applied and what works in eliminating inequities in healthcare.
• 😀 Strong partnerships and collaborations between the Māori Health Authority, health organizations, and local communities are essential for sharing information and driving equity-focused solutions.
• 😀 Ongoing commitment to addressing inequities must be embedded across the health system, focusing on improving access to data, resources, and funding for Māori health initiatives.
• 😀 A key requirement for success is the development of a clear, collaborative pathway for implementing evidence-based interventions that involve all stakeholders, from policymakers to families.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the Māori Health Authority as described in the transcript?

The primary focus of the Māori Health Authority is to strengthen pathways and address persistent inequities in the health system, particularly for Māori communities, through strategic partnership, policy design, service delivery, and fostering innovation.

How does the Māori Health Authority intend to address health inequities?

The Māori Health Authority aims to address health inequities by developing evidence-based programs, co-commissioning services for Māori, supporting Māori workforce development, and implementing strategies to reduce institutionalized racism and improve cultural safety.

What is the relationship between the Māori Health Authority and the Ministry of Health?

The Māori Health Authority partners with the Ministry of Health in the development and approval of national strategies and policies for Māori health, as well as monitoring system-wide outcomes and providing advice to ministers.

What role does the Māori Health Authority play in collaboration with Health New Zealand?

In collaboration with Health New Zealand, the Māori Health Authority plays a role in the co-commissioning of services, including hospital and specialist services, workforce development, technology, and primary care, with a focus on improving Māori health outcomes.

What is meant by 'implementation science' and its relevance to Māori health?

Implementation science studies how interventions, programs, or services are put into practice, with a focus on understanding challenges and experiences during the implementation process. It is relevant to Māori health as it helps identify what works, what doesn't, and the barriers and facilitators to implementing equity-focused interventions.

Why is there a need for more information on health inequities in the Māori context?

There is a need for more information because while there are some data available on health inequities, significant gaps remain in understanding how and where inequities arise, especially regarding preventable conditions and hospitalizations for Māori.

How can the Māori Health Authority contribute to innovation in the health sector?

The Māori Health Authority can foster innovation by supporting the development of Māori-centered service models, promoting Māori health programs, and ensuring that these models are embedded into Health New Zealand's strategies, thus contributing to system-wide improvement.

What is the significance of collecting and using primary care data in addressing health inequities?

Primary care data is crucial for understanding health patterns, identifying disparities, and making informed decisions about resource allocation and program implementation. Better use and access to primary care data will help in creating effective interventions for Māori health.

What are some of the challenges faced in implementing successful health interventions?

Challenges include difficulties in scaling up and rolling out successful interventions, limited research focused on Māori-specific health needs, and barriers related to systemic issues such as cultural safety and institutionalized racism.

What does the Māori Health Authority need to realize its opportunities effectively?

The Māori Health Authority needs ongoing focus on equity, better relationships and collaboration across sectors, greater use of available information, increased funding for research and interventions, and the development of an implementation pathway that includes all stakeholders in the health system.