Unfairness Rife In NZ Health System

The recently released statistical report from the Ministry of Health show there is strong evidence for the claims being made by UCAN that there are major inequities in the way primary health care services are being delivered in New Zealand.

Nearly 1 million New Zealanders experienced unmet need for primary health care in the last 12 months, with the highest level experienced by Maori women where almost half had unmet PHC needs. (see Table 29 in the report at the following link http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/health-new-zealand-adults-2011-12)

International comparisons have consistently shown that New Zealand is lagging behind other similar countries in terms of the fairness of its system. As the primary health care system is the gatekeeper to the rest the health care system and more advanced care, it means poorer people are just not getting in the opportunities that the rest of the population enjoys.

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