Senior doctors welcome the government’s policy decisions not to sell off public assets

Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) has welcomed the government’s policy decisions not to sell off public assets. “These two positive statements follow the Government's responsible decision to halt the move to privatize public hospitals through the development of Public Private Partnerships for redevelopment projects in Dunedin, Christchurch and Westport,” said Powell. “These decisions meant that it would be impossible for the dubious and foolish attempt of Taranaki DHB bosses to fully privatize the public hospital laboratory to proceed. The work done by hospital laboratories affects around 70% of clinical decision-making. Minister of Health David Clark's express approval is required for that to go ahead. (…) Taranaki's health bosses surely must realize now that this explicit direction of Government policy on public assets and privatization means that the Health Minister can't possibly approve their laboratory privatization push. We welcome this thwarting of their short-sighted and high risk ambition.”