Our national health service is being accused of structural imbalance.  

New documents reveal Te Whatu Ora's contractor workforce may not have earned their high wages.  

The number of contractors has dropped from more than 1,000 to just over 600 - after the audit found significant deficiencies in the agency's recruitment processes. 

The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director Sarah Dalton told Kate Hawkesby bringing 20 DHBs together was always going to be challenging.  

She says the agency has things the wrong way round and the focus needs to be on clinical services. 

Dalton says health professionals should be allowed to drive the system.    

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