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December 10, 2021
Māori short changes on gout cures
Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira
Posted On December 10, 2021
Download AudioMore than 10,000 Māori are missing out on the pills they need to stave off gout.
That’s the finding of the first of a series of reports for Pharmac looking at inequities in medicine access.
Chief Māori advisor Trevor Simpson says with the right treatment the painful; inflammatory condition is completely manageable.
The study found Māori are more likely to be hospitalised with gout, they’re less likely to receive preventive medicine before or after hospital admission, and they can get it younger and more severely.
“Rangatahi and young adults in the Māori population are presenting with gout at an earlier age and that is very concerning because that will mean it has an impact across the life course of all of those people,” Mr Simpson says
Pharmac is looking for more collaboration with Māori to tackle barriers to treatment.
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