23 August 2002
Health Minister Announces Primary Health Care Grants
Health Minister Annette King says the injection of almost $2 million into general practice and other primary health care
services around the country is designed to improve access to primary health care.
Ms King said the Reducing Inequalities Contingency Funding had created considerable interest among health providers
around the country.
The Ministry of Health has approved 27 applications from 14 District Health Boards in the first of two rounds of
funding. The money will help improve access to primary health care services for high-need and low-income groups.
The 27 successful applications were from provider groups in the Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Capital and Coast,
Counties Manukau, Hawke's Bay, Hutt Valley, Lakes, Northland, Tairawhiti, Taranaki, Waikato, Waitemata and Whanganui DHB
areas, Ms King said.
“Successful applications were mainly funded for general practice services or for new or expanded services or staff in
both rural and urban areas.
“The funding is targeted exclusively at providers serving a population group with known poor health status and high
unmet health needs.
“In this initial round a wide range of primary health care providers are being funded for services such as giving
low-cost access to GPs, community health workers or community nurses. It is in line with the Primary Health Care
Strategy, which aims to give all New Zealanders access to good, affordable primary health care.''
Ms King said the Government had allocated $400 million over three years for primary health care, and a further $2.4
million from the Reducing Inequalities Contingency Funding would be granted in 2003/04.
In the first round, 63 applications were considered last month, with $1.9 million approved. A further $900,000 is
available for the second assessment round in October.
Background
DHBs were sent letters about the Reducing Inequalities Contingency Funding on 28 March 2002. They were asked to inform
all relevant providers in their region about this new funding. The letter was also posted on the Ministry of Health
website.
Providers were required to meet the following criteria:
Serves an enrolled population with known poor health status and high unmet health need;
Already delivers, or demonstrates plans to deliver, accessible services (such as outreach services and services
provided in a variety of settings) and uses a range of providers (such as community health workers in addition to GPs
and practice nurses);
Is working towards forming or becoming part of a Primary Health Organisation (PHO), and is therefore working towards
meeting the minimum requirements for PHOs (i.e. provides the required services; works to reduce inequalities,
co-ordinates care, will be funded through the national formula for an enrolled population, has community/iwi/consumer
involvement in governance, all their providers and practitioners have influence, and is not-for-profit);
Will commit to low-cost access for all enrolled patients;
Has the support of the relevant DHB and the local community; and
Is ready (or will soon be ready) to receive funding by capitation with a current register of patients, including their
ethnicity and address.
Applications supported in this assessment round
NO. DHB Name of Organisation Funding level
1 Auckland Hauora O Puketapapa $45,000
2 Auckland Ötahuhu Union Health Centre Ltd $51,000
3 Bay of Plenty Te Manu Toroa $81,600
4 Bay of Plenty Te Runanga O Te Whanau $40,800
5 Canterbury The Kingdom Clinic & The Freedom Clinic $81,600
6 Canterbury Christchurch Union and Community Health Centre $45,050
7 Capital and Coast Newtown Union Health Service $80,000
8 Counties Manukau Otara Union Health Centre $90,000
9 Counties Manukau Community Medical Centre Trust $85,850
10 Hawke’s Bay Hawkes Bay Pacific Health Services $40,800
11 Hawke’s Bay Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga $21,250
12 Hutt Valley Whai Oranga O Te Iwi Health Services See below
13 Hutt Valley Hutt Union & Community Health Service $98,600 for appn 12 and 13
14 Lakes Rotorua General Practice Group $81,600
15 Lakes Turangi Community $80,750
16 Northland Te Tai Tokerau $122,400
17 Tairawhiti Ngati Porou Hauora Incorporated $97,750
18 Taranaki Ngati Ruanui Health Tahua Iwi Authority $20,400
19 Taranaki Te Atiawa Health Runanga Medical Trust $61,200
20 Waikato Te Rohe Potae O Rereahu Maniapoto Trust $20,400
21 Waikato Te Korowai Hauora O Hauraki $45,050
22 Waitemata Te Ha O Te Oranga O Ngati Whatua $56,950
23 Waitemata Waitakere Union Health $81,600
24 Waitemata Te Puna Hauora O Te Raki Paewhenua $60,000
25 Waitemata Te Whanau O Waipareira Trust $65,000
26 Waitemata Pasifika Healthcare $81,600
27 Whanganui Te Oranganui Iwi Health Authority $53,550