New Zealand invests in new national health platform

New Zealand’s Ministry of Health recently announced its plan to invest NZ$385 million (US$279 million) to implement Hira, the new national health information platform. Hira will provide a new way to access and update people’s health information. The government is planning to roll out Hira through multiple consumer and provider channels, such as websites and apps. During the first phase of Hira rollout, the system will enable access for both providers and consumers to important health information, such as demographics, enrolled general practice, prescribed and dispensed medicines, COVID-19 vaccination status, and more. The ministry said a change was necessary in the national health information platform as many health and disability information sources were not consolidated and there were variations in the quality of data and how data were collected and stored.