25991 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

25991 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: In the Minister’s departments, ministries and agencies for which savings have been identified resulting from the Government’s directive to reduce expenditure in the public service, if any, what savings have been identified, as at 30 May 2024?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that outlined in the Estimates of appropriations for Vote Health 2024/25, the Ministry of Health’s reduction in back office functions savings initiative returns $50.400 million total operating funding across four years from back-office functions at the Ministry of Health. I am further advised that cost reductions will be achieved through a number of targeted programmes, which include reducing back-office staff and other non-personnel related costs and reducing spend on contractors and consultants.