I had the pleasure of attending the NZ Initiative’s Health Innovator Summit yesterday, where I heard several experts, including our new Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora Commissioner, Lester Levy, speak about the past, current and future of our healthcare system.
One of the key takeaways for me from the summit was that in today’s rapidly evolving healthcare environment, it is more crucial than ever to not only maintain but also strengthen our clinical frontline. As emphasised, safeguarding our clinical workforce isn’t just about maintaining numbers—it’s about ensuring they are equipped with the tools they need to deliver the highest quality care. This is where digital health plays a critical role—not as a replacement, but as a powerful enabler of better outcomes for patients, families, and communities.
As Lester stated, Health NZ has faced challenges, particularly in digital transformation, due to an overemphasis on organisational structure and the sunk cost fallacy—remaining tied to outdated investments. However, with a shift in mindset and by leveraging the right assets, we can create a more connected and efficient healthcare system without taking several years to do so. The modern, scalable, and up-to-date technologies at our disposal can enable clinicians to make better-informed decisions, offer personalised care, and engage with patients in ways that were previously unimaginable.
Despite the current focus on cutting costs, the true path forward lies in shifting our attention to service delivery, localised care, and building up social capital. Now it's time to deliver—we need to act quickly and with unwavering focus to ensure that every NZ’er is at the centre of our care.
Thanks Dr Oliver Hartwich and Rob Hennin and their teams for executing an intellectually stimulating event! 🙌🏽
#nzhealth #digitalhealth #timetoact
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6moHmm. I read somewhere that Norway has 1/2 the number of beds per capita Israel healthcare is good but I wonder if everyone eating a Mediterranean diet and the social nature of Israelis might have a higher impact that how well Clalit performs. I'm not complaining I volunteer a day a week in the PT clinic in Modiin and they are crazy superb!!!