Enhancing Health Care Access in the Pacific Islands

Introduction

New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to facilitating medical treatment and health services for the Pacific Islands. Recognising the limitations faced by small island developing states in providing comprehensive health services, New Zealand aims to bolster local health professionals through training and capacity building, enhancing the quality of health care delivery.

Our Approach

Counties Manukau Health (CMH) Te Whatu Ora, serves a significant Pasifika population and also holds contracts to support the Pacific. In 2016 they were well placed to tender for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) – funded Medical Treatment Scheme (NZMTS) across Kiribati, Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The Pacific Health Department team, inexperienced with Requests for Proposal (RFP), enlisted the expertise of Kirsty Burnett and Dr Junior Ulu. Their successful track record with tender preparations made them ideal partners for crafting a compelling successful proposal.

Execution

Kirsty and Junior assembled a robust response by integrating technical inputs, showcasing CMH’s capacity, and detailing the resource needs and costings. With her experience at MFAT and the United Nations, Kirsty brought invaluable insights into what makes a tender successful, ensuring CMH’s proposal met the stringent criteria of funders.

Outcomes for CMH

The effort resulted in CMH securing a multi-year contract worth NZD15 million. This contract supported overseas patient referrals, provided visiting health specialists, and strengthened in-country capacity, all funded by MFAT. The well-prepared RFP also allowed MFAT to engage in a transparent and competitive selection process, simplifying contract negotiations.

Additional benefit for MFAT

During the COVID-19 pandemic, MFAT benefiting from CMH’s access to wider New Zealand public health responses and knowledge, and the dedication of a team who navigating the Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) for Pacific Islanders eligible to travel to New Zealand for medical treatment. CMH also engaged with Take My Hands to source surplus and new medical equipment and supplies to support training activities and also service delivery.

Based on success of Take My Hands’s work, Future Partners provides a regular monthly donation to support their ongoing work.

Client Feedback

"Kirsty and Junior were rigorous in their approach, ensuring our RFP was top-notch. Their understanding of the Pacific context and ability to merge development expertise with practical realities made them invaluable partners. Working with them was also enjoyable, filled with shared laughter." — Elizabeth Powell, former General Manager of Pacific Health