Opportunities Abound For New Health Minister

Incoming Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti has the
opportunity to resolve long standing issues in New
Zealand’s health system, from workforce challenges to
persistent health inequalities, to banning harmful Direct To
Consumer Advertising of Prescription Medicines, says the
Council of Medical Colleges in New Zealand (CMC).

CMC
Chair Dr Samantha Murton said the whole medical profession
encourages the new Minister to seize the opportunities in
front of the new government to improve health outcomes for
Māori and increase our supply of home-grown
doctors.

There are four strategic priorities for CMC.
These are: bringing about the Pae Ora; a healthy, culturally
safe, well-trained workforce; collaboration with other
organisations; and advocacy. The coalition agreements have
an impact on these areas of focus.

“The Council of
Medical Colleges believe our health workforce in New Zealand
should reflect the population we serve. We want to see a
robust, well-trained culturally safe health workforce that
meets the needs of our patients and whānau in Aotearoa New
Zealand,” Dr Murton said. 
 

“We
welcome efforts to increase the number of home-grown health
practitioners, look after and retain our hard-working health
workforce, and supplement our homegrown workforce with
well-inducted and well-supported international
recruits.”

The percentage of both Māori and Pasifika
health workers does not reflect their percentage in the
population. Medical Council Data shows that Māori Doctors
make up less than five percent of those who currently hold a
practising certificate, and Pasifika doctors make up around
two percent. Statistics New Zealand data shows that Māori
make up 17 percent of our population, and those of Pasifika
descent make up 9.1 percent.

“The Council of Medical
Colleges supports efforts by initiatives like MAPAS and the
Otago University Mirror on Society Policy to equitably
represent Māori and Pasifika medical students and trainees
to ensure we have a health workforce as diverse as the
communities we serve,” Dr Murton said.

“We expect
that any effort put into increasing the medical workforce
will focus on growing our own – and we support initiatives
to increase medical student numbers.”

The Council of
Medical Colleges are committed to bringing about Pae Ora
(healthy futures) and equitable health outcomes for Māori,
by aligning with Te Tiriti o Waitangi and partnering with
major stakeholders in Māori health.

We acknowledge
racism as a social determinant of health, and advocate for
institutional racism and bias within health system
structures to be eliminated.

We are concerned that the
Governments plan to abolish the Māori Health Authority | Te
Aka Whai Ora, will reduce the focus on tackling these
issues. CMC want to work constructively with the Government
to ensure that progress toward achieving equity in the
health system is not lost during their reforms.

There
is widespread concern in the medical profession about the
Government’s plan to repeal the Smoke Free Environments
Act and Regulated Products Act.

“This issue is
simple: smoking kills. Nicotine is highly addictive. Medical
practitioners witness first-hand the preventable death and
disease caused by smoked tobacco products; and the
inequitable health outcomes that smoked tobacco products
contribute to for our Māori and Pasifika
communities.”

The Council of Medical Colleges expect
that any amendments made to Smokefree Legislation will
continue to reduce the use, and health impact, of smoked
tobacco and nicotine products.

“Medical
professionals around the country were heartened when Dr Reti
joined calls for a ban on direct to consumer advertising of
prescription medicines. With the repeal of the Therapeutic
Products Act, it is essential that this stance banning
direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines is
maintained.

“Banning harmful Direct to Consumer
Advertising of Prescription Medicines would save thousands
of hours of doctors time and has the potential to
significantly reduce the over use of
medications.”

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