Minister Announces Primary Health Care Grants
23 August 2002
Health Minister Announces Primary
Health Care Grants
Health Minister Annette King says
the injection of almost $2 million into general practice and
other primary health care services around the country is
designed to improve access to primary health care.
Ms King said the Reducing Inequalities Contingency Funding had created considerable interest among health providers around the country.
The Ministry of Health has approved 27 applications from 14 District Health Boards in the first of two rounds of funding. The money will help improve access to primary health care services for high-need and low-income groups.
The 27 successful applications were from provider groups in the Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Capital and Coast, Counties Manukau, Hawke's Bay, Hutt Valley, Lakes, Northland, Tairawhiti, Taranaki, Waikato, Waitemata and Whanganui DHB areas, Ms King said.
“Successful applications were mainly funded for general practice services or for new or expanded services or staff in both rural and urban areas.
“The funding is targeted exclusively at providers serving a population group with known poor health status and high unmet health needs.
“In this initial round a wide range of primary health care providers are being funded for services such as giving low-cost access to GPs, community health workers or community nurses. It is in line with the Primary Health Care Strategy, which aims to give all New Zealanders access to good, affordable primary health care.''
Ms King said the Government had allocated $400 million over three years for primary health care, and a further $2.4 million from the Reducing Inequalities Contingency Funding would be granted in 2003/04.
In the first round, 63 applications were considered last month, with $1.9 million approved. A further $900,000 is available for the second assessment round in October.
Background
DHBs were sent letters about the Reducing Inequalities Contingency Funding on 28 March 2002. They were asked to inform all relevant providers in their region about this new funding. The letter was also posted on the Ministry of Health website.
Providers were
required to meet the following criteria:
Serves
an enrolled population with known poor health status and
high unmet health need;
Already delivers, or
demonstrates plans to deliver, accessible services (such as
outreach services and services provided in a variety of
settings) and uses a range of providers (such as community
health workers in addition to GPs and practice
nurses);
Is working towards forming or becoming
part of a Primary Health Organisation (PHO), and is
therefore working towards meeting the minimum requirements
for PHOs (i.e. provides the required services; works to
reduce inequalities, co-ordinates care, will be funded
through the national formula for an enrolled population, has
community/iwi/consumer involvement in governance, all their
providers and practitioners have influence, and is
not-for-profit);
Will commit to low-cost access
for all enrolled patients;
Has the support of
the relevant DHB and the local community; and
Is
ready (or will soon be ready) to receive funding by
capitation with a current register of patients, including
their ethnicity and address.
Applications supported in this assessment round
NO. DHB Name of
Organisation Funding level
1 Auckland Hauora O
Puketapapa $45,000
2 Auckland Ötahuhu Union Health
Centre Ltd $51,000
3 Bay of Plenty Te Manu
Toroa $81,600
4 Bay of Plenty Te Runanga O Te
Whanau $40,800
5 Canterbury The Kingdom Clinic & The
Freedom Clinic $81,600
6 Canterbury Christchurch Union
and Community Health Centre $45,050
7 Capital and Coast
Newtown Union Health Service $80,000
8 Counties Manukau
Otara Union Health Centre $90,000
9 Counties Manukau
Community Medical Centre Trust $85,850
10 Hawke’s Bay
Hawkes Bay Pacific Health Services $40,800
11 Hawke’s
Bay Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga $21,250
12 Hutt Valley
Whai Oranga O Te Iwi Health Services See below
13 Hutt
Valley Hutt Union & Community Health Service $98,600 for
appn 12 and 13
14 Lakes Rotorua General Practice
Group $81,600
15 Lakes Turangi
Community $80,750
16 Northland Te Tai Tokerau
$122,400
17 Tairawhiti Ngati Porou Hauora
Incorporated $97,750
18 Taranaki Ngati Ruanui Health
Tahua Iwi Authority $20,400
19 Taranaki Te Atiawa Health
Runanga Medical Trust $61,200
20 Waikato Te Rohe Potae O
Rereahu Maniapoto Trust $20,400
21 Waikato Te Korowai
Hauora O Hauraki $45,050
22 Waitemata Te Ha O Te Oranga
O Ngati Whatua $56,950
23 Waitemata Waitakere Union
Health $81,600
24 Waitemata Te Puna Hauora O Te Raki
Paewhenua $60,000
25 Waitemata Te Whanau O Waipareira
Trust $65,000
26 Waitemata Pasifika
Healthcare $81,600
27 Whanganui Te Oranganui Iwi Health
Authority $53,550