16330 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

16330 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: Did the Minister direct Health NZ to seek long-term contracts for ophthalmology outsourcing, and if so, when?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that Health New Zealand is progressing work to partner with the private sector to expand publicly funded ophthalmology services, ensuring more patients receive timely access to procedures such as cataract surgery. This Government is focused on delivery. Outsourcing is a practical, long-standing approach used by Health New Zealand under successive governments to make full use of available capacity, improve value for money, and reduce wait times - particularly in high-demand areas like ophthalmology. In my November 2025 Letter of Expectations, I directed Health New Zealand to establish long-term contracts with private providers to secure sufficient capacity. While I did not specify specialties, I am advised ophthalmology has been identified as a priority area. This is important in the context that between November 2017 and November 2023, I am advised that the number of patients waiting more than four months for an elective ophthalmology procedure grew by 4854%, and the total number of patients waiting grew by 101%. I am advised that analysis began in January 2026, with an open-market Request for Proposal process underway from March 2026. As this is an active procurement process, it would be inappropriate to comment on specific details. However, I am advised the process is focused on achieving cost-efficiency and system sustainability, including benchmarking private ophthalmology costs against internal delivery. I am further advised that detailed fee schedules are commercially sensitive and cannot be released. Health New Zealand also expects that these arrangements will increase ophthalmology capacity, support faster access to care, and complement the public workforce. Outsourcing remains a necessary and established part of planned care delivery, and operational decisions such as establishing a national ophthalmology panel appropriately sit with Health New Zealand. Further decisions will be communicated in due course.