National should embrace DHB reform

Stuff reports:

New National Health spokesperson Shane Reti doesn’t like the idea of amalgamating District Health Boards, getting rid of their elections, or creating a Māori Health Authority.

That’s disappointing. Now with regards to the proposed MHA quango, which with regards to DHB amalgamations and elections.

Having elected members on DHBs is daft. It doesn’t involve informed voting and dilutes accountability.

And it is obvious we have too many DHBs. We either shrink them to a small number, or even have one national health agency (not Ministry of Health) running hospitals directly.

The status quo is not working. National shouldn’t defend it.