Occupational health practice in New Zealand

On the basis of the national un-funded liability for work injuries and illnesses, and comparisons of health outcome and cost data to a benchmark, it can be concluded that occupational health practice in New Zealand is deficient. This deficiency persists despite recent legislative reforms and is due to a combination of Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Corporation, health professional and industrial factors. It is clear that a comprehensive corrective strategy is needed to attend to: the up-skilling of health case managers and the medical profession in concert; and, to encouraging employers to introduce comprehensive occupational health programmes.