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

 

More Conflict Looming In Health System

19 March 2007

More Conflict Looming In Health System

The next expensive confrontation between district health boards and health professionals looks set to be between DHBs and pharmacists, says New Zealand First’s health spokesperson Barbara Stewart.

“The Minister of Health and his ministry will be playing the all care and no responsibility card and it will be down to the DHBs and pharmacists to fight it out.

“As usual the ultimate casualties will be the longsuffering patients who have to pay extra when collecting their prescriptions because the DHBs and pharmacists cannot agree over dispensing fees.

“Many patients are entitled to discounted prescriptions under the primary healthcare strategy but dispensing fees for pharmacies have not increased for seven years and the proposed national agreement between the health boards and pharmacists - due to be signed by 31 March – does nothing to rectify the shortfall in dispensing fees which has developed over that time.

“Pharmacies in rural areas depend on the dispensing fee to remain viable and there will be an inevitable erosion of services if they close.

“If you find yourself paying more for your next prescription you can put it down to the lack of leadership from the top in the health system and the unfortunate inclination of health board bureaucrats to ignore the bigger picture when chasing illusory savings,” said Mrs Stewart.

ENDS


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.

© Scoop Media

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

 
 
 
 
 
 

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.