A guide for establishing Primary Health Organisations

This Guide for Establishing Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) should be read in conjunction with the Primary Health Care Strategy (see rec # 4841) and the Minimum Requirements for PHOs released by the Minister of Health in November 2001 (refer Appendix One). It is designed to be useful to District Health Boards (DHBs) and to providers and communities when they are planning primary health care locally and working to set up PHOs. It explains what PHOs are, what they will do, and covers some key considerations in their establishment. The Guide is intended as a collection of helpful ideas, examples and tools. It does not set further requirements. Since the Minimum Requirements are deliberately permissive of different approaches, DHBs should be careful not to restrict this approach or stifle innovations by setting their own more rigid requirements. Providers are encouraged to approach DHBs with their suggestions, and DHBs should develop their own plans in light of such proposals. PHOs are the local structures through which DHBs will implement the Primary Health Care Strategy. PHOs will be not-for-profit provider organisations funded by DHBs to provide primary health care services for an enrolled population.