KEY POINTS:
District Health Board members are to get their first fee increase in five years next year, the Ministry of Health announced today.
Acting deputy director-general John Hazeldine said fees were increasing by an average of 7 per cent at the country's 21 DHBs.
"[The increase] takes fees to a level which better reflects the responsibility of board members expected to govern complex organisations, providing a range of services to local people," Mr Hazeldine said.
The new fees will take effect on March 1.
At the low end Tairawhiti, Wairarapa, West Coast and South Canterbury DHB fees had increased to $16,000 for a member and $32,000 for a chair.
At the top end at Canterbury DHB fees had been increased to $26,000 for a member and $52,000 for the chair.
Setting the fees at an appropriate level would help ensure a correct balance between responsible public expenditure and the ability to attract members with the necessary mix of skills and experience, Mr Hazeldine said.
They were still modest compared to the private sector, he said.
The fees had been assessed against a fees framework recently issued by the government and took into account increases in revenue and assets.
Government funding had increased dramatically since the fees were last assessed in December 2001, Mr Hazeldine said.
Revenue at the 21 DHBs had increased between 44 per cent, at Waikato DHB, and 129 per cent, at Waitemata DHB.
Assets had increased between 14 per cent, at Counties Manukau DHB, and 163 per cent, at Southland DHB.
- NZPA
