New Zealand medical students commit to health equity at annual conference
21/05/2012

The New Zealand Medical Students’ Association (NZMSA) committed to advocating for health equity at the seventh annual NZMSA Conference Catalyst for Change in Rotorua over the 18th-20th May.

NZMSA President Mr Michael Chen-Xu says that the conference engaged students on the important challenges facing the New Zealand health system.

“New Zealand is facing a rise in the cost of health services because of an aging population, emerging obesity and diabetes epidemics, and the adverse impacts of continuing ethnic inequalities in health outcomes,” says Mr Chen-Xu.

Eminent speakers at the conference, including Associate Professor Phillipa Howden-Chapman from the University of Otago Wellington and Dr Judith McCool from the University of Auckland urged medical students to be strong advocates for health equity and public health.

The NZMSA Executive recently ratified a position statement on health equity.

“This position statement provides medical students with an evidence-based platform to advocate for changes in health, social, financial and trade policies for the health of all New Zealanders.

“For the sake of the financial sustainability of the New Zealand health system, this position calls for policies that reduce inequalities in access to healthcare and the social determinants of health.

“NZMSA calls on Government to consider the health impacts of its policies in the lead up to Budget 2012/13,” says Mr Chen-Xu.

The NZMSA health equity position and video are accessible on the NZMSA website www.nzmsa.org.nz

ENDS

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