Community Health Campaigners Hit The Nail On The Head

Community Health Campaigners Hit The Nail On The Head

District Health Boards in the Wellington region must respond to the issues of health equity and access raised by UCAN (United Community Action Network) says John Cody.

Cody has been involved in community health initiatives in Porirua for over four decades and supports UCAN’s leadership in the fight for a health system that’s fair for all.

"Members of the Newtown community are again leading the resistance to inequity in primary health care", he said.

"In Porirua the Government’s Primary Health Care strategy has been fragmented and health care providers cannot fix it without a stronger strategic framework from the DHB."

"The DHB has not achieved secure 24 hours a day, seven day a week access to acute primary care in the area. We have seen no public evidence the DHB is prioritising health equity apart from a few high profile projects which are vulnerable in the next budget round."

"We hope practical options will emerge from the Quality Symposium of the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners being held this week that will contribute to the growing discussion of “child poverty”, a living wage and health disparities."

"At present DHBs and the Minister are avoiding their duties to provide full primary care coverage. Additional primary services may have to be provided directly by Boards to support providers committed to serving communities that are under pressure," Cody says.

ENDS

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