June 17, 2020
Authority plan leap forward for Maori health
The New Zealand Māori Council says a recommendation for a Māori Health Authority is a giant leap forward even if the details need to be fought over.
The recommendation was included in the final report of the Health and Disability Services Reviewed by Heather Simpson, even though the review panel was split on how much power the authority should have.
Council executive director Matthew Tukaki says it’s a step towards resolving Māori health inequities, and needs to be seen alongside the move to halve the number of district heath boards.
"And of course the brining into being of Health New Zealand, of which all appointments to that board will be split down the middle in relationship to the treaty so 50 percent of appointments to that board will be Māori and for the remaining DHBs," he says.
Mr Tukaki says Māori now need to put the pressure on to get the review put into action, and also to address some of the gaps such a s services for the disabled and the elderly.
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