Competence Assurance Bill

• Abstract
• Purpose of health policy or idea
• Characteristics of this policy
• Political and economic background
• Purpose and process analysis
• Expected outcome
• References

Abstract

In close association with health professional groups the government of New Zealand has sought to update the legislation covering the competence of health professionals. The legislation aims to ensure higher and more consistent standards amongst health professionals, to assure the public that health professionals are competent to practise, and to provide a supportive environment for health professionals.

Purpose of health policy or idea

Objectives: To update the legislation covering the competence of health professionals. The legislation aims to ensure higher and more consistent standards amongst health professionals, to assure the public that health professionals are competent to practise, and to provide a supportive environment in which health professionals can practise, maintain their competence throughout their careers, and learn from their experiences and the experiences of their colleagues.

Characteristics: A Health Practitioners' Competence Assurance Bill is being introduced to provide a framework for the regulation of health practitioners. It replaces 11 existing occupational regulation statutes that have covered the competence of 18 different types of health professionals. Two of these statues dated back to 1949. These statutes establish registering authorities for the purposes of determining the competencies required for safe practice and registering practitioners who demonstrate they possess these competencies.
Process: A Discussion document on the proposed new legislation bill was circulated by the government in October 2000. 183 submissions were received and a draft Bill was drawn up. This Bill was referred to the Health Select Committee by the House of Representatives on 15 October 2002. The Select Committee then invited public submissions on the bill by 27 November 2002. The Health Select Committee is currently hearing oral submissions and it is due to report back on the Bill by 14 April 2003.

Incentives: This is a draft Bill only. I'll report on incentives if and when the final Act is passed.

Groups affected: The professional groups covered by this Bill are: medical practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, chiropractors, psychologists, occupational therapists, dentists, dieticians, optometrists and dispensing opticians, pharmacists, medical lab technicians, radiation technologists and podiatrists.

Innovationsgrad	traditionell		innovativ
Kontroversität	unumstritten		kontrovers
Strukturelle Wirkung	marginal		fundamental
Medienpräsenz	sehr gering		sehr hoch
Übertragbarkeit	sehr systemabhängig		systemneutral

Political and economic background

This Bill is simply a response to improve on outdated legislation which tends to be inflexible and does not reflect the current professional environment. There was no change in political direction and no requirement to comply with any other legislation or regulations. While it is obviously a part of the government's overall health policy, it is not specifically aimed at the priority objectives within the New Zealand National Health Strategy or other health goals.

Purpose and process analysis

Current Process Stages

	Idee	Pilotprojekt	Strategiepapier	Gesetzgebung	Umsetzung	Evaluation	Veränderung/Richtungswechsel
Implemented in this survey?

Origins of health policy idea

The current government is the driving force behind this policy. As far as I am aware, it is an "entirely new" approach in the sense that the policy has been developed to fit with current legislation and practice within New Zealand. However it is hardly innovative - simply essential legislation to ensure the ongoing competence of health professionals.

Stakeholder positions

This policy has been developed in close association with health professional groups, many of whom have long been calling for improved legislation. Of the submissions made to the initial discussion document, 96% were in favour of a single act covering all health professionals. There is also strong support for registration authorities (such as the Medical Council) to set registration requirements. The main areas of debate have been around (1) the requirement for certification and licensing of specific professional competencies (2) the proposed disciplinary processes.

Some professional groups are concerned that, in aiming towards greater flexibility across professional boundaries, the quality of care may be undermined. This is because the new legislation emphasises what health professionals can do, given certain competencies, rather than what they cannot do (i.e. by limiting certain practises to particular professional groups).

Mediation is effectively now taking place through the parliamentary Select Committee process. (These Select Committees have members from all parties represented in parliament).

Influences in policy making and legislation

This policy will lead to new legislation sometime during 2003. The degree of modification will be reported following the passing of this legislation.

Adoption and implementation

The main actors in implementation will be the health professional registering authorities (i.e. statutory Councils and Boards) that will have the responsibility to specify, maintain and monitor the competencies of their members. Further details of the implementation process will be given in a later report.

Monitoring and evaluation

It is too early to report on these issues.

Expected outcome

Again, it is too early to report in any detail. Much depends on the details of the final Act. There is no reason to suppose that the general objective of ensuring that health professionals are competent and up-to-date in their knowledge and ability to practise will not be met. As noted above, one possible unintended effect is a potential reduction in the quality of care which could result from the lifting on current restrictions on some professional practises.

References

Empfohlene Zitierweise für diesen Online-Artikel:

. "Competence Assurance Bill". Health Policy Monitor, 20030506. Available at http://www.hpm.org/survey/nz/a1/4