This paper represents the first part of a two-stage project ‘Where Next for Primary Health Care Development in New Zealand?’ that was undertaken by Judith Smith, Visiting Academic Fellow in the Sector Capability and Innovation Directorate of the Ministry of Health during 2008-2009. The project’s two elements were as follows:an initial phase entailing critical synthesis and analysis of PHCS implementation to date and a framing of the key issues that faced this sector in 2008 and beyond; anda second phase that sought to identify options for how primary health care provider development might go forward in New Zealand.
This paper is based on a synthesis of existing analysis of the Primary Health Care Strategy (the Strategy) and its implementation, framed within the author' s assessment of this material. In addition, 30 interviews with national primary health care stakeholders were undertaken in order to explore the background to, implementation of, and progress associated with the Strategy.