New Zealand primary care providers are set to receive a $44 million funding boost to provide high-quality services specifically targeted at Māori and Pacific populations.
The funding will be rolled out over the next two years and is expected to benefit those with the highest needs in the country.
Comprehensive care teams, including kaiāwhina, physiotherapists, pharmacists, care coordinators, and in some rural areas, paramedics, will be established in all early localities.
Kaiāwhina roles will also be introduced across several regions in the country, including Counties Manukau, Northland, Auckland, Waitematā, and Bay of Plenty, as part of the initiative’s first phase.
Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall explained that primary care clinicians are facing increasing demands from patients, and funding for clinical roles, such as physiotherapists and pharmacists, will help meet these needs.
“Better access to local care will go a long way to improve early intervention rates and help patients avoid hospital care, improving the Hauora of those who need it most,” says Minister Verrall.
The funding will prioritise providers serving Māori, Pacific, and rural populations with complex needs including those with limited access to primary healthcare services.
Another targeted investment of $37 million over the next two years will be used to more equitably allocate primary care funding to general practices based on their enrolled high-needs populations.
This is part of the Budget 22 initiative to address the shortfall in the current funding formula, which does not consider factors such as ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and age when distributing funds to primary healthcare providers.
Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare expressed his hope for what’s to come.
“This is an important initiative that will make a difference for Māori and Pacific providers and the whanau they care for.”
The immediate additional funding of $4.9 million will be allocated for the training and development of the kaiāwhina workforce, with a focus on diversifying the workforce and bringing in cultural competencies that reflect the needs of their communities.
The funding boost will be a significant move towards more equitable healthcare in New Zealand, addressing the needs of those who need it the most and ensuring that healthcare providers can provide comprehensive care to their patients.
