Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Budget 2005: $17 million for extra cataract ops


Budget 2005 $17 million for extra cataract operations


The Government will spend an extra $17 million over the next three years in providing a total of up to 7500 more cataracts operations.

Helen Clark and Annette King made the announcement today as they viewed a live cataract operation beamed into Annette King’s Beehive office from the mobile surgical bus in Kapiti.

Helen Clark said the new funding would see, by 2008, a 50 per cent increase on the number of cataract operations being performed now.

“This new cataract initiative is a logical follow-up to the orthopaedics initiative we announced in the Budget last year. Both initiatives are designed to dramatically improve the quality of life for thousands more older New Zealanders,” Helen Clark said.

Annette King said funding will be phased in over three years as capacity is increased to perform the extra operations.

“Currently we are performing about 8000 operations a year, and the aim is to perform an extra 1050 operations in 2005-06, up to 2500 extra in 2006-07, and to reach an extra 4000 operations a year by 2007-08. By then we aim to be performing 12,000 operations a year, a 50 percent increase on what is being done now,” Annette King said.

Annette King said an extra $2.67 million (all figures are gst exclusive) will be provided for the initiative in 2005-06, rising to $5.78 million in 2006-07 and $8.71 million in 2007-08.

“The Ministry of Health is setting up a working group, involving ophthalmologists, optometrists, and District Health Board and Ministry representatives, to find efficient and innovative ways of enabling even greater volumes of cataract surgery than planned to be carried out both over the next three years and subsequent to that.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“The mobile bus is one example of innovative practice, and I expect to see others develop around the country in response to the cataract initiative. “As well as Government commitment, we need the goodwill of health professionals, and I am delighted at the support we are receiving,” Annette King said.

Funding for the cataract project will be allocated to DHBs on a population basis. DHBs are expected to use their own facilities as the first option, those of neighbouring DHBs if more capacity is needed, and private facilities when required.

Helen Clark said when the cataract initiative is fully implemented, there will be more equal access to services around the country.

“For example, DHBs will be encouraged to consider using the mobile bus, particularly to improve access for those living in rural areas, for the elderly and those people who find transport difficult to arrange,” Helen Clark said.

“We are achieving equality of access with the orthopaedics project as well, and both initiatives illustrate this Government’s commitment to building a fair and inclusive society.”

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.