Six Health Targets

Six new health targets set nationally

In 2007/08, the New Zealand health sector introduced Health Targets to focus resources and improve performance in 10 key areas. District Health Boards are working with the Ministry of Health to set and achieve them, and in so doing will contribute to overall improvement in the health of New Zealanders and reducing inequalities. The aim of Health Targets is to improve health outcomes over time by focusing on priority areas. They will give us a focus for action - enabling us to go harder and faster - and we will be able to measure their impact to see what difference we are making.

Ministry of Health Targets

From 1 July, there are six new targets instead of the current set of 10. The six Health Targets are a more focused and simple set that have both short-term and long-term achievable health gains.

National health targets a focus for Waikato District Health Board’s annual plan

Waikato District Health Board’s annual plan is for the three financial years 2009-12 but focuses on the 2009/10 year, which starts on 1 July.

An annual plan is a legal requirement but is the primary accountability document between the Minister of Health and Waikato DHB board. This plan shows how Waikato DHB will contribute to the Government expectations for the publichealth system to deliver better, sooner, more convenient healthcare for the communities we serve.

DHBs have a long list of statutory objectives and functions but the raison d’être of a DHB is to improve the health status of its population and eliminate inequalities in the health status of various groups within the community it serves. In doing that, it plans and funds health and some disability and support services. It also owns and operates public hospitals (Health Waikato).

A top focus will be the national health targets and the Waikato DHB specific targets for achievement in 2009/10 (see table).

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