UI - 94018896 DA - 19931123 IS - 0025-729X LA - eng PT - Journal Article SB - IM Radical changes planned in the New Zealand health system aim to improve its cost effectiveness, quality and consumer responsiveness. These changes will take place despite a paucity of data on the use of resources and outcomes. Data collection systems are to be introduced into hospitals and primary care with the use of the Read clinical codes (RCC) in addition to ICD-9-CM (International classification of disease--clinical modification) and ICPC (International classification of primary care). This paper discusses the proposed changes to the New Zealand health care system and describes their effect on the present and future data collection methods in general practice.