National Primary Care Dataset

Improving care by bringing primary care information together.

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Strong primary care is the foundation of a good health system. It’s where prevention happens, where problems are picked up early, and where people get support to stay well.

To help strengthen primary care services across Aotearoa, we are working with the sector to establish a National Primary Care Dataset.

This dataset will hold information collected from general practices, so we can build a clearer, more consistent picture of how primary care is working, its relationship and impact on other parts of the system and where improvements are needed.

The first focus is on general practice encounters and appointment information, which will inform the new national health target aiming for 80% of people to be able to access a primary care appointment within seven days.

Find out more:

This webinar, from Thursday 12 February 2026, outlines the next steps with the introduction of the National Primary Care Dataset. 

People's data

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People’s privacy is essential. All information collected for the dataset must meet the requirements of the Privacy Act 2020, the Health Information Privacy Code, the Health Information Security Framework (HISO 10029:2022) and Health NZ’s own governance and security standards.

A Privacy Impact Assessment is in progress and will be kept updated to make sure every step meets privacy standards.

Health information is stored safely with strong encryption, role-based access, and continuous monitoring. For reporting, all data is anonymised or aggregated, and strict suppression rules prevent identification in small groups.

From April 2026, participating practices will begin securely sharing information related to general practice encounters and appointments. This includes when an appointment was booked, when the person was seen, and the outcome of that appointment.

Find out more: Encounter Data Element Definition.PDF125 KB

Over time, we will work with the primary care sector to introduce other data elements into the dataset, including information about the primary care workforce and people’s health status.

We’re also planning to include patient experience information, sourced from the National Patient Experience Survey.

All data use is guided by the Data Access Framework, agreed by the National Primary Care Dataset Governance Group.

Find out more: Data Access Framework.external linkPDF 

The Primary Health Organisation Services Agreement (PHOSA) includes new provisions agreed with the primary care sector that set out what additional general practice information will be collected for the National Primary Care Dataset, and how that information will be managed.

The agreement also establishes the Primary Care Dataset Governance Group, which oversees the data framework, including how data is defined, collected, and accessed.

Data sharing for the dataset is linked to contingent capitation funding, and practices can choose to opt out of sharing data and receiving this funding.

In March, we will be asking PHOs to support general practices to sign an interim general practice Information Sharing Agreement to allow data collection to begin in April. It is separate from the access and use agreement, which will include two-way sharing and how information is accessed and used.

Once finalised, we will ask PHOs to support general practices to sign a ‘two-way sharing’ Data Access and Use Agreement. 

The Data Access and Use Agreement will be supported by a set of schedules that outline the specific requirements for each dataset. Practices will sign the main agreement once and then complete the relevant schedules for initiatives such as the National Primary Care Dataset, the Shared Digital Health Record, and any future datasets added over time.

Supporting patients

It is important that we are transparent about how patients’ health information is used and protected. 

In March, we will provide primary care practices with:

  • A patient‑friendly flyer
  • A set of Q&As to help with patient conversations
  • A link to a public-facing web page.

Patients can contact us if they have questions. 

Key dates

31 March 2026

  • Contingent Capitation dataset opt-off deadline

April 2026

  • General Practice encounter and booking appointment data flows begin for participating practices
  • TBC – from April, Data Access and Use Agreement onboarding

July 2026

  • Encounter and appointment data is included in Primary Care Health Target reporting

End of 2026

  • First public reporting of Primary Care Health Target  (Q1 26/27).

The Shared Digital Health Record

The Shared Digital Health Record (SDHR) is also rolling out in a similar timeframe to the National Primary Care Dataset, but it has a different purpose. For practices that choose to participate, the SDHR will securely share patient‑level clinical information so providers across the system (such as GPs, after‑hours services, and hospitals) can access key information when people need care. SDHR is also being introduced in the coming months. 

We are working in alignment with the Shared Digital Health Record developments so organisations can register, provide assurance checks and sign one Data Access and Use Agreement, with additional schedules used to cover different datasets and purposes.

Find out more about SDHR.external link

Other Health NZ data collections

The National Primary Care Dataset sits alongside many other national datasets such as the Aotearoa Immunisation Register, national screening data, and enrolment and funding records. These also help us plan services and monitor performance.

National collections.external link 

Questions and support

We are working with PHOs to support them in engaging their general practices through this process.

Questions can be sent to primary.care@tewhatuora.govt.nz