Are elected health boards an effective mechanism for public participation in health service governance?

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is growing interest in the idea of elected members on health service governing boards as a means to induce public participation in planning and decision making, yet studies of elected boards are limited. Whether elected boards are an effective mechanism for public participation remains unclear.

Setting and participants

This article discusses the experiences of New Zealand where, since 2001, there have been three sets of elections for District Health Boards. Information on candidates and election results is presented along with data gathered via post-election voter surveys. The article also considers the broader regulatory context within which the elected boards must operate.

Discussion and conclusions

The New Zealand experience illustrates that electe

SUBMITTER: Gauld R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5060546 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature