NEW YORK – The coalition government has come under scrutiny at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York for decisions affecting Māori health.
"The people have spoken, and it is a big fat no to that bill," says New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku.
Last month’s announcements covered a health sector delivery plan, governance, “partnerships”, telemedicine, primary care funding, workforce (overseas-trained doctors, more training placements for doctors and nurse practitioners, incentives for primary care practices to recruit nurses), and lowering the age for free bowel cancer screening.
English thinks funding is only part of the story – it’s accountability for how that money gets spent that is the challenge.
The failure of multiple governments to address inequities in bowel cancer screening has led to “the potentially avoidable death of thousands of New Zealanders”, says a New Zealand Medical Journal editorial.
Health Minister Simeon Brown rejected advice from officials to lower the bowel screening age to 58 for the general population and 56 for Māori and Pacific people, just-released documents show.
The government is being accused of sacrificing peoples' lives for ideology by delaying bowel cancer screening for Māori and Pacific people from 50 to 58.
Government plans to lower the age for free bowel cancer screening for all New Zealanders by "redirecting" money previously set aside to lower the age for Māori and Pasifika has been described as "disappointing".
Government changes to bowel screening eligibility will leave more Māori and Pacific people at risk of dying at a younger age from bowel cancer, New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says.
The government has announced plans to lower the age for free bowel cancer screening for all New Zealanders by "redirecting" money previously set aside to lower the age for Māori and Pacific people.
HEALTH SERVICES AND SYSTEMS
EQUITY
Exploring the impacts of the health system on minorities within the population, notably including Māori, Pacifica, Asians and LGBTQI.
DRUGS, DEVICE AND DIAGNOSTICS
PUBLIC HEALTH
DIGITAL HEALTH
TE TIRITI