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Two Pacific Teams

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Two Pacific teams have been established at the Ministry of Health in Wellington to replace the former Pacific Health Branch. “Each team has a different job to do,” says Dr Api Talemaitoga, Chief Advisor Pacific Health. Pacific Policy Team “The Pacific Policy Team (at right) is focused on developing Pacific health policy and sits within the Health and Disability Systems Strategy Directorate under Deputy Director General (DDG) Deborah Roche. The Acting Team Leader is Beverley Braybrook, and current team members are Debra Tuifao, Marisa Maepu, Natu Levy, Sally MacLean, Api Poutasi and Joanna Minster. Pacific Innovations Team “The other team is the Pacific Innovations Team (below right) which is part of the Sector Capability and Innovation Directorate under DDG Margie Apa. I head up the Pacific Innovations Team and we’re currently appointing a Team Leader. The other members of the team are Au’apa’au Royce Pritchard, Jonathan Malifa and Anne Tuffin. “The new arrangement enables a clearer focus on policy and it also introduces more robustness,” says Api. “The Pacific Policy Team reports to a different DDG and that puts a different perspective into the system which I find really useful.” The Pacific Innovations Team is responsible for administering the Pacific Provider Development Fund (PPDF). A contestable fund is also now in place to distribute funds through smaller DHBs that may not have a local Pacific provider in their area. This fund enables smaller DHBs to work with local Pacific people and communities to improve health services to their local Pacific populations. A more flexible funding regime is being trialed this year with the establishment of a fund to develop Pacific health services. “Up until now, funding has gone towards funding Pacific health infrastructure, not services,” says Api. “The PPDF is about building the capacity and capability of providers. “This new initiative will enable us to explore new ways of delivering health services for Pacific people, and to fund those services directly.” Feedback on this story (0) Have your say on this story Name Your comment Add comment

 

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