July 14, 2021
No place for Plunket in new pepe service – Jansen
A Māori medical leader says there should be no place for Plunket in an overhaul of health care for under fives.
Associate health Minister Ayesha Verrall has called for the revamp of Well Child Tamariki Ora in light of a report showing many Māori and Pasifika babies aren’t getting the same level of care, including referrals when things go wrong,
Whānau Awhina Plunket has welcomed the report and says it’s prepared to work more closely with Māori and Pasifika providers in the new system.
But Dr Rawiri Jansen says the organisation has been unable to cast off the white supremacist legacy of its founder, Truby King.
"So this report tells the absolutely tragic story of how Plunket gets $60 million a year and is not delivering for Māori and Pacific and disabled. It's a tragedy but you've got to shine a light on it and I applaud the bravery of the ministry, it's a good report and the minister, she's really competent, another good piece of work from this minister and we've got to see a change in that and I do not think Plunket should be part of our future," he says.
Dr Jansen says he told the Plunket board last year it should shut down and transfer its assets to a new organisation and start afresh – but it is unwilling to give up its racist history.
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