Thursday, 15 January 2004
Shortages of public health workers poses risk to health gains Shortages of public health workers such as health
protection officers, health promoters and public health physicians pose a risk to New Zealand making significant
improvements in health, according to the Public Health Association.
Association spokesperson Dr Fran McGrath says there is concern about the exodus of GPs and hospital doctors seeking
better conditions overseas but training and retention of public health workers is also failing to keep pace with the
numbers needed for public health and for the new Primary Health Organisations.
"The success of the new PHOs is reliant on New Zealand having enough public health workers skilled in looking at what is
needed in each community. These workers must be able to assess needs and engage with communities and local health
professionals so PHOs can make a real difference for everyone, particularly for Maori, Pacific peoples and people on low
incomes."
Shortages are also important because health protection officers and environmental health officers perform essential
roles such as carrying our border surveillance for insect pests, infectious diseases, and pollution control, Dr McGath
says. She points out the report The New Zealand Health Workforce says the New Zealand health system will be vulnerable,
especially if it neglects specialist public health workers.
"New Zealand has not invested enough in public health to meet the challenges facing the health system. For example we
have steady increases in admissions to hospital that could be prevented by effective primary health and public health
initiatives."
Shortages of Maori health protection officers are particularly acute although efforts are being made to address this
across the country, Dr McGrath says. She congratulates Waikato DHB for the Maori health protection scholarship they are
offering, and says New Zealand needs to multiple those sorts of creative approaches.
The Public Health Association says workforce planning should be planned nationally and implemented regionally so the new
primary health organization and DHBs can effectively implement the Government's Primary Health Care Strategy.
ENDS