The Review compared and contrasted alternative
approaches to organising relationships between purchasers
and providers of health-care services, and the incentives
each approach offered. It recommended the state retain its
dominant position as funder of health services in New
Zealand, but move to a mix of state and private provision
Health Economics in New Zealand
and a greater use of contracts with providers. It also suggested
reviewing user charges and the respective levels of
subsidies paid for different services in primary health care
(to reduce barriers to access to more cost-effective primary
health care services) [9].