This evidence-based ‘pull model’ signals to the innovation community the big picture problem areas for health systems and models of care where disruptive technologies will be most useful in improving patient outcomes, bending the cost curve and driving consistency of care at a national level.

What does it mean for the timely and appropriate introduction of health technology into the New Zealand Health system, now that the National Health Committee (NHC) has been disestablished? Will New Zealand ever have a comprehensive system to fast track the right technology for the right patient groups at the right time into the New Zealand health system?

This presentation provides an update on the transition of the core technology prioritisation functions of the former NHC into the Ministry of Health’s new Strategic Technology Prioritisation and Innovation team. It will also outline how the foundational work of the former NHC is being developed through the use of a cross-governmental technology innovation pipeline and the exploration of a ‘Commissioning with evidence’ approach to enable ‘real world’ testing and proving of new technologies at the front line of care.

These developments build on the world leading Health Technology Assessment (HTA) process developed by the former NHC and the investment in translational research through a partnership with the New Zealand Health Research Council.