29.1.07

Profit Motive Hits Health Information Requests

The "openness and accountability" promised by Annette King under District Health Boards has taken another blow with Pete Hodgson's quote for $684 for a simple Official Information Act request from health campaigner David Tranter. (Pete Hodgson letter attached).

The Health Minister's response to the request, which is for nothing more than a list of Special Medical Areas with the dates they opened and closed, contrasts with earlier answers, not charged for, to my much more detailed OIA enquiries, Mr. Tranter said.
The reason for the current request is to obtain background information relating to the West Coast DHB's current moves to close the two remaining SMAs on the West Coast at Ngakawau and in South Westland.

Given Mr. Hodgson's vague references to where the information "may be", it is remarkable that he specifies 10 hours to find it. In the past such information was supplied free of charge from easily locateable Ministry records, so it would seem that OIA requests are yet another victim of the bureaucratisation of health service information together with an agenda to extract money at every opportunity for what should be readily available information..

While government claim to be improving access to health care it makes no sense to ignore the SMAs' long-standing recognition of the social needs and extra costs of accessing care for remote communities. The current agenda to eliminate all remaining traces of the once widespread SMA service and the refusal of the West Coast DHB to even reveal their advice to the Minister about Ngakawau and South Westland, again reveals the creeping secrecy which has invaded health issues.

Mr Hodgson's outrageous quote for an OIA request adds to the mockery of "openness and accountability" under corporatised District Health Boards, Mr Tranter said.

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