The Digital Health Association (DHA) welcomes today’s Budget as a significant step toward treating digital health as the critical infrastructure it is.
Investment in cyber security of $153.6 million – including for primary care – recognises that protecting health information is a system-wide responsibility, not one that can sit with any single organisation. Smaller primary care providers need support to meet mandated standards, and we welcome the government’s commitment to making that possible.
The Health Digital Investment Plan funding announced today of $300 million, is the kind of sustained commitment a 10-year programme actually requires. A modern, connected health system can’t be built on one-year allocations – and today’s Budget acknowledges that. Replacing aging devices, modernising systems, and upgrading core IT platforms all support the health workforce in their daily mahi supporting patients.
It’s encouraging to see the Government committing to digital health improvements – which directly benefit the lives of patients. The ambulance’s electronic patient records rollout shows the government understands digital is fundamental to patient safety. Similarly, investment in joined-up radiology imaging and in the everyday infrastructure clinicians rely on will be felt directly by patients. faster diagnosis, fewer repeated tests, more time with the people who need it.
The work now is in the delivery. DHA’s 170+ member organisations bring the design, integration and operational capability to make this investment count, and we look forward to partnering with government, Health New Zealand, and the wider sector to get the delivery right – particularly across primary care and aged care, which must not be afterthoughts in this plan.
Today’s Budget follows yesterday’s independent review into the Manage My Health cyber incident – a review that set out 26 recommendations the government has committed to acting on. Taken together, they are a serious signal that digital health is being treated as core infrastructure, impacting patient safety. The sector will be watching the delivery, and supporting it.
DHA Listening Pick: Grey Areas by Petra Bagust
