RANZCO has today launched its ambitious Vision 2030 and beyond initiative to provide timely access to eye healthcare for the people of Aotearoa New Zealand, and is inviting leaders in government, health care organisations and community groups to contribute to the plan.
Vision 2030 and beyond – Aotearoa New Zealand is now open for public consultation. RANZCO representatives have already commenced stakeholder discussions including meeting with NZ health minister Dr Ayesha Verrall earlier this week, for a constructive conversation about making its aims a reality.
“Aotearoa New Zealand has no national vision plan nor the means to execute one. Vision 2030 and beyond will change this,” RANZCO said.
The College said Aotearoa New Zealand’s population is aging and the demand on eye health services continues to increase rapidly. Waitlists continue to grow.
“Manageable eye conditions are left untreated because patients cannot access care. These only become less manageable with time. The need for change is even more acute for many Māori and Pasifika communities, who historically have suffered major inequities in care and consequently poorer vision outcomes,” it said.
Vision 2030 and beyond has been developed by The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) in collaboration with partners in the eyecare space.
RANZCO’s New Zealand chair, Dr Liz Insull, said Vision 2030 and beyond defines the barriers to equitable access to eye healthcare for all people in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“In doing so, Vision 2030 and beyond outlines an ambitious plan of work to remove these barriers.”
The plan provides a new framework for delivering eye healthcare to the population of Aotearoa New Zealand that is collaborative, proactive, comprehensive and sustainable.
According to RANZCO, Vision 2030 and beyond is founded on three principles:
Principle 1: To provide a structure that creates trust and shared decision-making, ensuring patients and whānau can access the very best eye healthcare aligned to their values, needs and aspirations.
Principle 2: To achieve equitable outcomes for tangata whenua, and ensure that Māori world views, values and wairuatanga (spirituality) are present in our work.
Principle 3: To ensure eye healthcare delivery is sustainable and future-proofed, enabled by innovation and appropriate technology and IT systems, to better care for our community and build trust with our patients.
A copy of Vision 2030 and beyond – Aotearoa New Zealand is available online.
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