Emeritus Professor Des Gorman (Ngāti Kuri and Ngāpuhi) is an Emeritus Professor of Medicine in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland. From 2005 to 2010, he was the Head of the University’s School of Medicine. He has a BSc, MBChB and MD degrees from the University of Auckland, as well as a PhD from the University of Sydney. Professor Gorman’s non-clinical interests include health system design and funding, and health workforce planning and development.He has more than 300 publications.
He is the Chairman of the Orangi Mahi Governance Group and a member of the Ministry of Health’s Capital Investment Committee. His past roles include being a Director of the New Zealand Accident Compensation and Rehabilitation Corporation (2012-2018), the Executive Chairman of Health Workforce New Zealand (2009-2019), a member of the National Health Board (2009-2014) and of the Government’s welfare reform group (2009-2010). Professor Gorman is currently involved in health reforms in a number of different jurisdictions.
Emeritus Professor Des Gorman on RNZ news discussing the GP shortage crisis. Listen below. Read more
Emeritus Professor Des Gorman spoke to Corin Dann on RNZ , calling for urgent action to secure the GP workforce and expand their role. Listen below. Read more
The New Zealand Initiative Calls for Immediate Action to Retain and Expand the GP Workforce Following Recent Study Wellington (Monday, 11 March 2024) - Considering a recent study highlighting the severe limitations on general practice enrolments due to capacity issues, The New Zealand Initiative urges a renewed focus on retaining the existing GP workforce and expanding their roles and functions. This call to action reinforces the Initiative’s work to address New Zealand's healthcare challenges, as outlined in its report, "Lifeline for Health: Meeting New Zealand’s Need for General Practitioners," which was released in August last year. Read more
As the nation prepares to vote on 14 October, the sentiment across New Zealand is one of frustration and concern. Skyrocketing living costs, unaffordable housing, strained healthcare, and a growing educational gap are the voices of a country looking for change. Read more
Mike Hosking discusses the Initiative's new research report Lifeline for Health: Meeting New Zealand’s need for General Practitioners. Read more
New Zealand's general medical practitioners (GPs) are facing a crisis, with a workforce shortage set to worsen over the next decade unless immediate action is taken to support workforce expansion and development. The health of all New Zealanders and the delivery of top-tier healthcare heavily relies on community-based medical care, mainly provided by Specialist GPs and multi-disciplinary health care teams. The introduction of an "accountability-free capitation" has seemingly driven a decline in the hours GPs work by creating a financial incentive to minimize patient service costs, and analyses indicate a significant decrease in the GP to population ratio, and a decline in GP work hours. Read more
Wellington (Wednesday, 9 August 2023) – The New Zealand Initiative has released a report, "Lifeline for Health: Meeting New Zealand’s need for General Practitioners," authored by Emeritus Professor Des Gorman and Dr Murray Horn. It highlights a critical crisis facing New Zealand's general medical practitioners (GPs). Read more
Wellington (Thursday, 20 April 2023) – A new report, authored by Emeritus Professor Des Gorman and Dr Murray Horn, reveals that New Zealand's COVID-19 pandemic management was highly politicised and resulted in poor performance during the outbreak. Lifting the Lid: A Critical Analysis of the Covid-19 Pandemic Management in New Zealand offers recommendations on how to improve future responses. Read more
A pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) continues both worldwide and in New Zealand. Although estimates are that half the New Zealand population have been infected, more likely almost every citizen has come into contact with the virus in some way. Read more
A new report from The New Zealand Initiative is hitting out at the politicisation of our COVID-19 pandemic management. Co-author Emeritus Professor Des Gorman says that while they couldn't disagree with the overall strategy or the public health measures, the way it was governed left a lot to be desired. Read more
Scathing criticism of the role politics played in our COVID-19 response. A review co-authored by Emeritus Professor Des Gorman and published by The New Zealand Initiative, says while they don't disagree with the overall strategy or the public health measures, the governing left a lot to be desired. Read more
On the same day the police watchdog's report into the force's handling of last year's protest and three-week occupation of parliament is being released, a think tank's report into the government's Covid-19 response has found it overly political, lacking adaptability and agility, and needing more transparency. The study called Lifting the Lid: A Critical Analysis of the Covid-19 Pandemic Management in New Zealand and it has been published by The New Zealand Initiative, a pro-free-market think tank. Read more
A critical analysis of the Covid-19 pandemic management in New Zealand A pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) continues both worldwide and in New Zealand. Although estimates are that half the New Zealand population have been infected, more likely almost every citizen has come into contact with the virus in some way. Read more
Are Māori dying earlier because they are Māori? Do Māori lead less healthy lives because they are being discriminated against? Read more
Are Māori dying earlier because they are Māori? Do Māori lead less healthy lives because they are being discriminated against? Read more