Contracting for Health Services: Lessons from New Zealand

Contracting is a tool that is playing an increasing role in many health systems. Although contracting has the potential to add benefits to health systems it also adds further complexity. Following a substantial health sector reform and the introduction of a purchaser-provider split contracting became a central part of the management of New Zealand's publicly funded health system during the period 1993 to 2000.

This publication examines a number of different aspects of New Zealand's experien...