March 15, 2024
Health status report ignores intellectual disabilty
IHC New Zealand has slammed a new government report, billed as a “nationwide picture of the population’s health,” for ignoring the 47,000 people with intellectual disability.
Advocacy director Tania Thomas says Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand’s Health Status Report acknowledges significant inequities in health outcomes exist, but doesn’t delve any deeper.
She says it has been 13 years since the government adequately reported on health indicators people with intellectual disabilities – using data collected in 2008.
At that time the life expectancy gap between the general population and intellectually disabled people was a staggering 23 years.
A report by IHC last year found the life expectancy for a Māori man with intellectual disability is just 62, and for women it’s 63.
Ms Thomas says it’s time for government to highlight, prioritise and address the unfairness of health provision in this country.