In 2001, the then Minister of Health launched the Primary Health Care Strategy (the Strategy), which the Government regarded as introducing the most significant changes to primary health care in more than 50 years.
The Strategy sought to achieve many goals, which were set out in its vision statement:
People will be part of local primary health care services that improve their health, keep them well, are easy to get to and co-ordinate their ongoing care.
People will be part of local primary health care services that focus on better health for a population, and actively work to reduce health inequalities between different groups.
It was estimated that carrying out the Strategy could take five to 10 years. It is a large and difficult task, which involves participation by many primary health care stakeholders.
My staff audited how the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) has monitored progress toward the Strategy's goals. Overall, the Ministry needs to review its measures to ensure that it can assess progress toward all of the goals in the Strategy's vision statement. Once it has that progress information, it needs to report it publicly and regularly in a consolidated report.