November 02, 2022
Equity focus as health sector restarts
The gap in some Māori health indicators is starting to close.
The Health Ministry’s latest annual report says the equity gap for Maori over 65 receiving flu jabs has dropped from 8.4 percent to 4.4 percent.
Other measures it expects will reduce inequity include funding for cochlear implants and the distribution of 1 million test kits for the national bowel screening programme, which is free for up to 835,000 New Zealanders aged between 60-74.
John Whaanga, the deputy director general for Maori health, says it shows the effect of iwi and Maori health providers extend their reach during Covid.
“We’ve done some things I think we need to build on moving forward – Maori workforce development for instance. We’ve now got hundreds more allied Maori health workers who are able to vaccinate for Covid for instance, how do we help them then build their skills and ability to vaccinate for other things,” he says.