New Zealand Healthcare System

New Zealand's healthcare system is funded mainly through general taxation. Treatments are usually free or subsidised. Medical treatment is generally very good and of a comparable standard to other western countries. Evidence based practice is strongly supported and Public hospitals have invested heavily in state of the art communication systems which emphasise the use of technology to facilitate healthcare delivery at the bedside. Online x-rays /pathology reports are usual practice, as is same day reporting on most standard tests. Hospitals utilise intra-net networks to ensure good communication between departments and disciplines and much of the dispensing of medication can be dealt with in this way too.