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If you are interested in working in New Zealand, you should know that the healthcare system has changed substantially over the past few decades. The country now operates a mixed public-private system, having previously been a fully public system.
If you are planning on moving to the country for a job in the medical sector, it is imperative that you are completely aware of how the system works and the health care options that are available to you. Keeping that in mind, continue reading to discover everything you need to know about health care in New Zealand.
If you are interested in working in New Zealand, you should know that the healthcare system has changed substantially over the past few decades.
Tweet ThisOverview Of Health In The Country
New Zealand certainly has a healthy image and the statistics back this up. According to the CIA World Factbook, the infant mortality is 4.65 deaths per 1,000 live births, whereas the world infant mortality is 49.4 deaths. The World Health Organization states that life expectancy in New Zealand is 81.7 years. This ranks New Zealand as 17th in the world for life expectancy, with global life expectancy being 71.0 years.
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The Structure Of The Healthcare System In New Zealand
Today the healthcare system is one that is very much a mixture of public and private health care. This change towards a mixed economy started several decades ago, in the 1970s. Prior to this New Zealand was a taxpayer-funded system, very much like the current system in the UK. Nevertheless, public hospitals do provide treatment free of charge to citizens and permanent residents. They are managed at district level and hospitals are well spread all over the country.
The Standard Of Health Care In New Zealand
Generally, the medical centres in New Zealand are of a good standard. Doing a course at a reputable university, like Grad Canyon University nursing, will certainly impress over there. As you will soon discover, the main disappointment with the health care system is the fact that waiting times are extensive in public hospitals. Aside from this, the overall standard of health care in New Zealand (both public and private) is high. Numbeo reveals that New Zealand ranks very highly in regards to the friendliness and courtesy of medical staff, the standard of the equipment for modern diagnosis and treatment, as well as the convenience of location – meaning there should never be a medical centre too far away.
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It is also worth noting that whilst free health care is provided via the public system, not everything is covered, and consultation fees are higher on the weekends and for night visits. The private health care system is highly regarded in the country, with there being an extensive selection of options to choose from in terms of hospitals and clinics. Private health care covers everything from general surgery to specialist procedures, to recuperative care, as well as radiology clinics and private testing laboratories.
Making The Most Of It
All that being said, it is still an incredibly enjoyable experience to move abroad for work, and you will want to make sure that you are doing everything in your power to make the most of it. To do that, you need to try your hardest to adopt an attitude of positive change and to try and be proactive in trying to keep yourself along the right lines. You should seek out every fresh opportunity there is in that new land, and do whatever you can to keep your ties to home strong at the same time. All of this will amount to a much more enjoyable and thrilling work life, and you will be no doubt glad to have made that significant change.
The more that you make a point of making the most of it, the more likely it is that you will also raise the ranks within the business, so you should make sure that you are doing so for that reason too. All in all, it is an incredibly exciting experience which you should grasp with both hands.
If you’re planning on working in the healthcare sector and you’re considering jobs abroad, we hope this guide has helped.
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