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Ian Powell
Otaihanga Second Opinion is a regular health systems blog in New Zealand.
Ian Powell is the editor of the health systems blog 'Otaihanga Second Opinion.' He is also a columnist for New Zealand Doctor, occasional columnist for the Sunday Star Times, and contributor to the Victoria University hosted Democracy Project. For over 30 years , until December 2019, he was the Executive Director of Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, the union representing senior doctors and dentists in New Zealand.
Ian Powell - Latest News [Page 1]
A Devastating Critique; But There’s Always A But!
Saturday, 22 March 2025, 3:00 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses an economist’s critique of Health Minister Simeon Brown’s recent major health announcement. More >>
When Apartheid Met Zionism
Saturday, 15 March 2025, 6:42 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses, in a New Zealand context, what happens when apartheid meets Zionism. More >>
Brown’s Surgery Puts Health System At Increased Risk
Friday, 14 March 2025, 8:39 am | Ian Powell
Ian Powell delves upon Health Minister’s major announcement last week with a particular emphasis on the risks and realities of outsourcing non-acute surgery. More >>
Getting Out Of The Current Health System Mess
Saturday, 8 March 2025, 4:45 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses how New Zealand’s health system got into its current mess and how to get out of it. More >>
Private Versus Public Health Systems
Sunday, 2 March 2025, 6:28 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the changing nature of the relationship between public and private (hospitals and insurance) and how the latter has become an increasing threat to the former. More >>
When Overlaying Fact In Health Systems With Fiction Morphs Into Embellishment
Monday, 17 February 2025, 1:43 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses what happens when facts get overtaken by fiction to become embellishment in the context of the current direction of New Zealand’s health system. More >>
Is Health New Zealand Becoming An Audit Office Frequent Flyer?
Thursday, 13 February 2025, 12:02 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses whether Health New Zealand is becoming a frequent flyer for the Auditor-General and why that might not be such a bad thing given the circumstances. More >>
More UK Lessons For Labour Party In New Zealand
Thursday, 6 February 2025, 3:23 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses The Lessons Of A Recent Dramatic UK Political Poll For The Labour Party In New Zealand More >>
Reti’s Velvet Glove Wore Too Thin For PM’s Iron Fist
Friday, 31 January 2025, 2:11 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the sacking of Shane Reti as health minister and the appointment of Simeon Brown as his replacement. More >>
Reckless Disregard Or Cruelty (Or Even Trumpian!)
Thursday, 30 January 2025, 6:26 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the sudden decision to remove the evidence based equitable age for Maori and Pacific eligibility for the national bowel screening programme. More >>
Gutting Specialised Health Teams Follows ‘slash And Burn’ Strategy
Wednesday, 22 January 2025, 3:23 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses Health New Zealand’s plan to disestablish expert national health teams as part of its Commissioner’s ‘slash and burn’ strategy. More >>
When Politics Gets In The Pocket Of The Gun Lobby
Wednesday, 15 January 2025, 4:19 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses when a government gets in the pocket of the gun lobby. More >>
Welcome Puberty Blockers Report But Beware Derailing Transphobia
Tuesday, 7 January 2025, 5:16 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the Health Ministry’s position statement on puberty blocker prescribing in the context of an NZ Medical Journal article, guidelines based on the Hippocratic Oath and the risk of transphobic derailment. More >>
Imperialism, Chagos Islanders And The Fight To Return
Sunday, 5 January 2025, 1:58 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the long determined fight of evicted Chagos Islanders to return home in the context of imperialism. More >>
Haka, Hikoi And The Empowerment Of The Kohanga Generation
Wednesday, 18 December 2024, 6:26 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the recent massive unprecedented hikoi in New Zealand in its wider context including the relationship between struggle, consciousness and empowerment. More >>
Commissioner’s Approach To Healthcare Provision: ‘Slash And Burn’
Sunday, 15 December 2024, 5:06 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses Health New Zealand’s ‘slash and burn’ approach under its new Commissioner Lester Levy with particular reference to IT infrastructure. More >>
David Farrar’s Incomplete Health Workforce Analysis
Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 6:34 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses why increasing numbers of resident (junior) doctors in New Zealand are leaving the country, primarily to Australia, in response to an incomplete simplistic claim by rightwing political commentator David Farrar. More >>
Changing Face Of Capitalism: Private Equity Threat To New Zealand Economy
Sunday, 8 December 2024, 7:01 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the potential threat of private equity companies to the New Zealand economy in light of the SolarZero liquidation and the US experience. More >>
Public Hospital Specialists Increase: Delusional Spit In The Ocean With Sinister Undertone
Thursday, 5 December 2024, 6:13 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the recent announcement of an increase of 50 senior hospital doctor position in New Zealand’s pubic health system; both the strong scepticism and a sinister undertone. More >>
General Practice Visits, Emergency Department Presentations, And Social Determinants Of Health
Tuesday, 26 November 2024, 2:38 pm | Ian Powell
In this article, Ian Powell examines the relationship between declining general practice visits, emergency department presentations, and social determinants of health, as highlighted by the latest New Zealand health survey. More >>
