Health Minister Simeon Brown’s plan to partner with the private sector to address the backlog of elective surgeries has drawn criticism from unions, who warn it could lead to the gradual privatisation of New Zealand’s health system, according to a report by RNZ.
Speaking at the BusinessNZ Health Forum on March 7, Brown said long wait times remained a major issue, with 27,497 people waiting more than four months for procedures as of September 2024. He argued that outsourcing elective surgeries to private providers in a more structured way could offer better value for money than the current “ad hoc” approach.
“At the moment, Health NZ undertakes both elective surgery and also responds to acute need, with planned elective surgery often being disrupted by acute need, leaving patients waiting for treatment and waitlists continuing to grow,” Brown said.
The NZ Private Surgical Hospitals Association welcomed Brown’s comments, with association president Blair Roxborough expressing confidence that private hospitals could meet demand.
However, the Public Service Association (PSA) criticised the plan, saying it signals a shift towards privatisation. PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons accused the government of failing to properly fund the public health system, making it seem as though private sector involvement was the only solution.
“This is part of an international playbook, where governments hollow out public services—starve them of funding—and then say privatisation is the only answer. Privatisation has no place in healthcare,” Fitzsimons said, warning that continued funding cuts would have long-term consequences and called for increased investment in public healthcare.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku also questioned how Brown’s proposal fits into existing health strategies, saying there was little clarity on how it would align with the Pae Ora Act, the Government Policy Statement, and other ongoing initiatives.
"It isn't clear how this latest plan fits with the plethora of other current health plans, strategies and legislative frameworks," she said.
Nuku also raised concerns about the lack of detail on improving access for Māori and vulnerable communities, particularly regarding Iwi Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs). Although the government had previously committed to these boards, she said Brown made no mention of their role in his plans: “It's no wonder everyone in the health system is confused."
