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CTU analysis shows funding freeze as health need grows
CTU analysis shows funding freeze as health need grows
Media Release 1 July 2017
The thorough CTU Health Budget
analysis out today shows the raw facts of health
underfunding of the public health service in particular.
NZNO Chief Executive Memo Musa and President Grant Brookes
say the $101m shortfall in Budget 2017 for national health
services funding is irresponsible.
“Health workforce training, contracted services, maternity services and public health service funding alone is short $36m. Inadequate funding for preventive healthcare and community nursing results in more people going to the hospitals, which is not the way to keep New Zealanders well, or the best use of public funds.
“Public health is yet again on the
receiving end of cuts when the evidence points to this being
an area of increasing need and means our more vulnerable
people missing out.
“Preventable diseases are on the
rise and the public education and upskilling to keep well
will be vital to stop spreading fatal diseases,” Memo Musa
said.
NZNO President Grant Brookes:
“This lack of
investment in the workforce may really be the tipping point
that triggers many in an aging nurse workforce to hang up
their boots. This is the opposite of what we need.
“New Zealand is facing new public health threats because of the increased movement of people, animals and food around the world, and this, combined with environmental effects of climate change mean the public health budget must incorporate funds for these contingencies,” he said.
The
full analysis of the Vote Health budget is available at: http://www.union.org.nz/did-the-budget-provide-enough-for-health-2017/
A
detailed spreadsheet showing the calculations is available
at: http://www.union.org.nz/health-vote-2017-18-post-budget/
An analysis of the announced $224 million ‘boost’ for mental health is available at: https://www.asms.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Budget-2017-mental-health-funding-boost-a-cut-in-real-terms_168083.3.pdf.
‘Overall the CTU assess this year's total shortfall for this year alone to be $215m.’
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Te Kauae Kaimahi
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 350,000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.
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