Department of Health

"The use and abuse of drugs" a handbook for health educators issued by The N.Z. Department of Health.

Keywords: Drugs, Education

1972

1 File

The Department of Health was formed in 1903. In 1970s the high growth rate in hospital expenditure was occurring at a time when the economy was slowing down. Thus, the government was unable to sustain funding this growth. This led the health system to undergo a series of changes over a 20-year period from the 1980s. During the 1990s the National government attempted to stream-line the system in a series of reforms such as separating the government purchasing and provision of health care services. During this time the department was renamed as the Ministry of Health.