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History of the IT Health Board

In July 2009 the Ministerial Review Group released its Report entitled Meeting the Challenge: Enhancing Sustainability and the Patient and Consumer Experience within the Current Legislative Framework for Health and Disability Services in New Zealand.

The Report highlighted that leadership of health IT must be strengthened within the context of improving the overall performance of the health system.   

 Following the release of the Report on 19 October 2009 Cabinet decided to:

  • establish the National Health Board (NHB) as a Ministerial Committee under section 11 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000
  • replace the Health Information Strategy Advisory Committee (HISAC) with the National Health Information Technology Board.

As a subcommittee of the NHB, the IT Health Board provides strategic leadership on information systems across the sector and to ensure the IT strategy is reflected in capital allocation processes and capacity planning decisions.

Health Information Strategy Advisory Committee (HISAC)

Previously HISAC was a Ministerial Advisory Committee providing independent, strategic advice to the Minister of Health and the health sector. HISAC assisted the Minister of Health to achieve effective governance and delivery of the Health Information Strategy for New Zealand (HIS-NZ) by supporting the collaboration and partnering of organisations and individuals within the health and disability system.

HIS-NZ was a plan informed and led by the health and disability sector aiming to enhance the safe sharing of health information to meet emerging challenges and remedy identified gaps in health information systems in New Zealand.

A crucial aspect of HISAC's role was to ensure the views and interests of the health and disability sector were considered in the implementation of HIS-NZ. HISAC also ensured transparency and coordination of the implementation of HIS-NZ and identified opportunities for innovation.

For more information on the work HISAC was involved in, refer to the Archive.