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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 9]
District Health Board Considers Directly Employing General Practitioners
Thursday, 15 April 2021, 4:52 pm | Ian Powell
Like almost every economically developed country outside the ‘Disunited States’, New Zealand has a universal health system that endeavours to be accessible for all, comprehensive, high quality and affordable. The country is well placed to achieve ... More >>
Health Minister Little Gives Thoughtful Keynote Speech… But
Sunday, 28 March 2021, 5:22 pm | Ian Powell
Last Thursday (25 March) I was interviewed live on Radio New Zealand’s The Panel about a keynote address the previous day by Minister of Health Andrew Little on the implementation of the review of the health and disability system led by Heather Simpson. ... More >>
Very Good Fluoridation Political Call, Dr Verrall
Sunday, 21 March 2021, 2:35 pm | Ian Powell
Infectious diseases specialist Dr Ayesha Verrall was a surprise cabinet appointment being a first-time MP. Despite the rarity she’s not mucking around. This is evidenced by her legislative proposal, as Associate Minister of Health, to shift decision-making ... More >>
Pointer To Government Rethinking On District Health Boards?
Thursday, 18 March 2021, 3:00 pm | Ian Powell
On 4 March I blogged on Otaihanga Second Opinion about recent indications that the Government was rethinking its position on one of the two main pillars of the structural overhaul of New Zealand’s health and disability system recommended by the Heather ... More >>
Health System At Risk By Government Abdicating Leadership Of Simpson Review Implementation To Business Consultants
Sunday, 14 March 2021, 5:51 pm | Ian Powell
The Government is putting the health system at risk by abdicating the leadership duties and responsibilities of its Health Transition Unit to external business consultants. The Unit is based in the Prime Minister’s Department and is responsible for the ... More >>
DHB Deficit Drivers
Sunday, 7 March 2021, 5:54 pm | Ian Powell
On 1 March 2021 Minister of Health Andrew Little was reported by the Otago Daily Times giving Southern District Health Board (SDHB) a stern message over its high deficit level. The Minister’s implied message was clear that SDHB was largely responsible ... More >>
Taking The Threat To New Zealand’s Health System Out Of Simpson
Thursday, 4 March 2021, 4:40 pm | Ian Powell
On 23 February I had a lengthy article on the Heather Simpson review of New Zealand’s health and disability system published online by the Democracy Project . https://democracyproject.nz/2021/02/23/ian-powell-rescuing-simpson-from-simpson/ The essence of my article was that the Simpson review’s proposed major overhaul ... More >>
Reforming The Funding Of District Health Boards
Monday, 1 March 2021, 7:31 am | Ian Powell
There is a compelling case for reforming the way New Zealand’s district health boards (DHBs) are funded starting with two relatively low cost technical measures. DHBs are important because they are responsible for both community and hospital healthcare ... More >>
Public Health System Subsidises Private Health System But!
Thursday, 25 February 2021, 6:41 pm | Ian Powell
The relationship between New Zealand’s public and private health systems has long been a subject of debate, wariness and occasional controversy. Yesterday the results of a University of Otago study of patients who needed public hospital care after ... More >>
Rescuing Simpson From Simpson
Wednesday, 24 February 2021, 10:06 am | Ian Powell
(Originally published at The Democracy Project ) Will the health reforms proposed for the Labour Government make the system better or worse? Health commentator Ian Powell (formerly the Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical ... More >>
Patience Required For Vaccine Supply In New Zealand
Sunday, 31 January 2021, 2:43 pm | Ian Powell
Andrea Vance is a journalist I respect highly and make a point of reading both her columns and more in-depth pieces. I also admire her preparedness to call the government out for failings in the application of our internationally successful elimination ... More >>
Misplaced Attack On New Zealand's Response To Covid-19
Sunday, 24 January 2021, 7:19 pm | Ian Powell
Peter’s Covid dunne-over misplaced Former longstanding minister, including associate health, in both National (mainly) and Labour led governments Peter Dunne has earned a deserved reputation for his measured and methodological approach to matters. I ... More >>
Is There A Difference Between A Powerful Government And A House Of Cards?
Friday, 22 January 2021, 3:27 pm | Ian Powell
The 2020 general election produced the most powerful government New Zealand has ever had since proportional representation (mixed member representation) began in 1996. With three year terms we have now had nine elections under this system. For ... More >>
Simpson Restructuring Could Stifle Potential To Address Inequitable Māori Cancer Care
Monday, 21 December 2020, 6:06 am | Ian Powell
I have always been a fan of public radio and, in particular, Radio New Zealand. While one can question from time to time some of its reporting, generally it is solid and informative. Democracy is not just spending around 2-3 minutes every three years ... More >>
Necessary Health System Trade-offs Should Be Unnecessary
Friday, 11 December 2020, 5:49 am | Ian Powell
The National Bowel Screening Programme (NSBP), which began in 2017 following a pilot that started at Waitemata District Health Board five years earlier, is a welcome initiative long in its gestation and implementation. The screening programme is for ... More >>
Little In Health Systems Are What They First Appear To Be
Tuesday, 8 December 2020, 6:22 am | Ian Powell
One thing I quickly learnt after commencing work as the first Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) over three decades ago was that in the health sector little that happens is what it first appears. Invariably ... More >>
Health Restructuring Threatens Patient Voice
Monday, 7 December 2020, 10:09 am | Ian Powell
The opportunity for public voice is vital for the effective functioning of New Zealand’s health system. Inevitably voice boils down to the accessibility quality of comprehensive healthcare services for patients both at an individual treatment and population health ... More >>
Pay Equity Settlement For DHB Administration Staff Has Valuable Lesson For Medical Specialists
Friday, 4 December 2020, 6:18 am | Ian Powell
Under new gender pay equity legislation through an amendment to the Equal Pay Act in July the Public Service Association (PSA) has achieved a major win for clerical and other administration staff employed by New Zealand’s 20 district health boards ... More >>
Foot And Mouth By Health Unions Not Smart
Monday, 30 November 2020, 3:56 pm | Ian Powell
Health systems are labour intensive which makes workforce critical to their performance. The fact that New Zealand’s public system is highly unionised, especially health professionals, is a systemic strength. Health unions have proven to be essential ... More >>
Collective Bargaining And Health Systems: Place And Tide
Sunday, 22 November 2020, 6:21 pm | Ian Powell
Otaihanga Second Opinion is a health systems blog with a largely New Zealand focus. Otaihanga on the Kapiti Coast and by the Waikanae River is where I live. It is a Maori name meaning the place made by the tide. Linking collective bargaining to health ... More >>
