Former Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Board Chair Rob Campbell says ongoing leadership instability is damaging public trust in the health system.
Over the weekend, Health Minister Simeon Brown announced the resignation of Fepulea’i Margie Apa as Chief Executive of Health NZ, with four months left on her contract.
Her departure follows scathing remarks from Health Commissioner Lester Levy.
Campbell says leadership at Te Whatu Ora remains chaotic, with Commissioner Levy’s role also up for renewal in four to five months, adding to uncertainty at the top level.
He says mistrust is now a greater issue than funding and urges urgent action to restore confidence in the system.
“One of the things that the government has to have a funding path which people believe in and think is reasonable and can achieve its objectives. So that’s the first thing that’s missing and the government is showing no signs of producing that. But until it does, there won’t be, won’t be trust,” says Campbell.
Rob Campbell says the government’s stop-start approach has made Māori health equity difficult to achieve.
He believes a future government may need to re-establish an agency like Te Aka Whai Ora to address Māori health disparities.
