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The Labour Party says Maori health providers are getting hurt by Health Minister Tony Ryall’s budget cuts.
Spokesperson Annette King says information gathered through an Official Information Act request to all District Health Boards show over the past three years many DHBs have either reduced funding to Maori health providers or given such small increases they have not kept up with the cost of provision.
She says nine out of 16 DHBs had their funding for Maori health reduced since 2010, and once inflation is taken into account, all 16 faced cuts .
She says in the 2010/11 financial year $82.2 million was spent on Maori health, but that fell to $80.9 million in 2012/13, despite a rise in the Maori population.
Ms King says Mr Ryall’s obsession with targets which are more about looking good politically than improving the health of the population, means primary healthcare for the sickest and poorest New Zealanders is suffering.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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