Health Minister Annette King today announced the names of Pacific health providers who will receive funding from the
$1.5 million she announced on June 7 when reinstating the Pacific Island Provider Development fund.
Mrs King said the $1.5 million would be distributed among 14 primary care providers between Auckland and Christchurch.
"We have made primary care a priority in the first funding allocation, as hospitalisation rates of Pacific peoples are
disproportionately high. About 45 per cent of hospitalisations of Pacific people could be avoided by treatment by a
primary care professional at an earlier stage."
Mrs King said such statistics made it clear primary care services must be more accessible to Pacific peoples. "This
initial funding is going to organisations that specifically provide services to Pacific peoples. It is not for new
services, but will enhance existing services, and can contribute toward other initiatives that will boost services,
including strengthening the workforce.
"This funding allocation is only the first step. The Ministry of Health and the Health Funding Authority, in
consultation with the Pacific Health Reference Group, are now working on allocating a further $5m to Pacific providers,
to be distributed next year. The next distribution from the fund will be spread more widely to Pacific providers,
probably encompassing mental health and disability services."
Mrs King said the aim of the first allocation was to distribute it in a specific way to "provide immediate benefit to
Pacific peoples".
The money has been allocated to:
Auckland: Family Life Education Pasifika, Health Star Pacific Ltd, Pasifika Fono, Health Pasifica, South Seas Healthcare
Ltd, Tongan Health Society, Pacific Island Womens Health Project, Pacific Islands Homecare Services Trust.
Hamilton: Central Pacific Trust.
Wellington: Hutt Union Health, Newtown Union Health, Pacific Island Resource Centre, Porirua Union Health.
Christchurch: Pacific Trust Canterbury.