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Download AudioThe Prime Minister says no one needs to fear they will miss out because of work the Government is doing to address disparities for Māori.
Labour has come under fire for the inclusion of ethnicity in Te Whatu Ora’s Equity Adjustor Score for elective surgery waiting lists.
Chris Hipkins says the tool is to help medical professionals make decisions about people who have been on waiting lists for more than two years.
“Disproportionately that affects Maori, Pacific, people from rural communities and people from low income backgrounds so in clearing the backlog the health system are being proactive in making sure they do make sure that those people aren’t treated inequitably so it isn’t about preferential treatment, it’s about recognising the fact that actually the opposite has been happening,” Mr Hipkins says.
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