Primary Health Organisations are local structures that provide essential primary health care services to the community including General Practitioners, Māori Health Workers, Psychologists and Midwives.

The first Primary Health Organisations were established in July 2002 and there are now 81 around the country. There are two primary health organisations in the Whanganui District Health Board area:

• Te Oranganui Iwi Health Authority Primary Health Organisation
• Whanganui Regional Primary Health Organisation

Primary Health Organisations are non-profit organisations and get a set amount of funding from the government to subsidise a range of health services. That funding pays for:

• Providing care and treatment when people are ill
• Helping people stay healthy
• Reaching out to those groups in their community who have poor health or who are missing out on primary health care.

Since July 2002 the Government has invested over $2.2 billion in funding for primary health care nationally.