Fiscal challenges and changing patterns of need for health and long-term care in New Zealand

New Zealand’s health and long-term care system plays an important role in society by improving the length and quality of people’s lives and providing dignity for the sick and infirm. It also accounts for a significant proportion of government spending and a rising share of national income. This article discusses some of the challenges that New Zealand faces in managing expenditure growth and repositioning its health and long-term care system to deal more effectively with changing patterns of disease.