Surgical Mesh - Why do we have a Minister of Health?

Media Release

Saturday 27 August 2016

Why do we have a Minister of Health?

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman's latest evasive response to long-standing concerns about the widespread failures of surgical mesh again highlights the selective hands-off approach of successive health ministers, according to the Democrats for Social Credit health spokesman David Tranter.

Responding on Radio NZ (25 August) to surgical mesh problems the Minister only managed to say that the government backs recommendations by the health select committee which, he said, "should be followed". And there in a nutshell is the problem with health ministers who will not say that action will be taken but merely that it "should" happen.

Dr. Coleman's predecessor Tony Ryall was a past master at side-stepping important issues which he repeatedly justified by replying to my letters with the comment that it is "not appropriate" for the health minster to get involved in the running of DHBs, Mr. Tranter said.

Dr. Coleman is obviously following the same path. Since DHBs have an all-powerful role in the public health system surely the Minister of Health must step in when, as with the surgical mesh situation, urgent action is required.

Adding insult to injury Dr. Coleman then stated, "patients can approach the Health and Disability Commissioner or ACC” - it’s common knowledge around the health sector that the HDC takes up to several years to complete investigations while ACC are themselves part of the problem for patients seeking help regarding surgical mesh.

While the multi-million dollar political/bureaucratic health juggernaut grinds on, the voluntary Mesh Down Under group continues to spell out the problems and what is required to solve them.

How much longer is the Minister of Health going to evade his duty to people who are suffering on a huge scale? If he’s powerless to act, why do we need him at all?

ENDS

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