The voice of New Zealand’s funded pathology sector
NZ Pathology represents the views and aspirations of the funded pathology sector and the future of funded pathology services in New Zealand.
NZ Pathology is the trading name of The New Zealand Association of Pathology Practices Incorporated. Established in 1991, the association was derived out of a need for a common voice on developing community pathology service provision and to foster the highest standards of pathology practice in laboratories.
Collectively, private pathology providers (also known as the funded pathology sector) provide 98% of all community-based pathology services and 40% of hospital services in Aotearoa.
Pathology and laboratory diagnostics is a critical healthcare service. 70% of medical decisions and 100% of cancer diagnoses rely upon laboratory diagnostics in both community and hospital facilities.
Our members are long-standing healthcare providers and have been working with patients and doctors in our communities and hospitals for well over 60 years. In-fact community pathology has always been provided by private providers; similar to general practitioners, dentists, radiology and many other healthcare services.
A new future for the pathology sector
Our current laboratory sector has served us well, but the way it has been structured has produced geographical and service delivery inconsistencies. With the current health reforms, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to set some new fundamentals in place that will move the sector closer to meeting Pae Ora aspirations.
Our future state needs to be consistent, patient-centred, smart, agile, and appropriately resourced – with the public and private laboratory services partnering effectively towards a common goal.
The Future of Pathology position paper we have developed sets out what we believe the pathology sector needs to do and look like to deliver these aspirations.
Our members
Contact
Feel free to contact us with any questions or media enquiries.
Email
contact@nzpathology.co.nz