Professor Anil Thapliyal
Auckland, August 30, 2021
Governance through Covid-19 stormy waters is akin to fixing the rudder to the ship, with a Captain steering it to safer waters. None of us ever get to see the rudder but we know that one-degree correction either to left or right can have massive repercussions.
With any pandemic comes visible and non-visible challenges that need addressing.
Covid-19 is no different. The lockdowns, MIQ, social distancing, national and international travel, work and the ongoing uncertainty have created a spawning ground for complex psychosocial and mental health challenges that need responses at a national level.
Not many people may be aware of the detail of the broader governance aspects: for example, the psychosocial response that the Ministry of Health implemented not only for the urban but also for the remote and rural parts of New Zealand under Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield’s leadership mandate to address challenges faced by all New Zealanders.
Purest democracy
New Zealand is truly a marvel of what the purest form of good democracy looks like, where we can agree to disagree but still work together for the larger good of the nation.
This is the only reason that we are the envy of the rest of the world, because we know that as a nation, that is the only way to create symphony is to let each maestro play their own instrument. And Dr Bloomfield: your instrument being the most pivotal one, allowed all the five million maestros to remain on the stage till today (August 16, 2021) without mask and any social distancing and allow them to play their instruments.
Tough, unpopular decisions
In times of crisis, some leaders do what is the easy, palatable and popular thing to do without causing too much disruption but very few leaders do the right thing of making very tough decisions in the very first place. It is important to note that behind this outward-facing kind, caring and affable person is a person of strong determination with steely resolve.
Everyone respects Dr Bloomfield for that.
In my opinion, being the Director-General and Chief Executive of the Ministry of Health has to be toughest job in the land of the long white cloud (that is New Zealand). It is literally a mission impossible.
People often ask me which country has the best healthcare system in the world and my response is that there are only the three healthcare systems that I know of: bad, ‘badder’ and ‘baddest.’ When you travel to the ‘baddest,’ the bad looks good. When I am liaising and working with other countries internationally, I miss the mental Health system of New Zealand but I come back home it is the hottest political potato nobody wants to touch.
The best from adversity
But what the question begs is that can we do better and the answer to that is that is “of course yes.” From my international experience of working with officials in Europe and Asia to Australia, I can tell you categorically that no country has got it right; it may surprise you that all of them look to New Zealand for what to do next.
Sometimes, the adverse circumstances bring out the best in us.
All countries around the world had the same opportunity but New Zealand, under Dr Bloomfield, chose a unique and different way to respond. Unbeknown to us, we were setting the precedence for the rest of the world which is still held in high regard globally.
There is a universal chorus of admiration internationally for the way New Zealand has managed the biggest pandemic of our time which has caused unimaginable havoc around the world. In my view, Respect is the ultimate litmus test. Respect is something you earn not command. And may I say that Dr Bloomfield has earned that universal respect not only within New Zealand geographical boundaries but globally.
Dr John Haggie, Minister of Health, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Province in Canada said on a special video thread (see below): “The common thread is the way have adopted communications. We went out each day and provided information as we had it and as accurate as it can be. Please listened and followed.”
Such a high-quality international endorsement makes me feel very tall and proud.
A big round of applause for Dr Bloomfield. His humble demeanour and ability to listen and empathise with everyone at the national level practically and pragmatically in a relatable, clear and concise manner is commendable.
Professor Anil Thapliyal is Chief Executive of eMental Health International Collaborative and Health TRx. The above was an extract from his Concluding Remarks at the Eleventh Annual Indian Newslink Lecture on August 16, 2021.
