More than a third of New Zealanders are not receiving the health care they need, according to a report by the Association of Salaried Health Professionals, published by RNZ on May 2.
The report compiled official data, patient surveys, waiting lists for non-surgical care and information on the number of people who refused care after being referred to a specialist. It found that approximately 1.75 million people do not receive dental care and 329 thousand (and 55 thousand children) do not receive treatment for mental illness or substance abuse.
The number of people not receiving specialist care within four months has increased six-fold from 2019 to September 2023. However, the number of residents visiting emergency departments has increased by 22% in the nine years to 2023.
The authors of the study maintain that the situation is much worse than in comparable European countries and call for urgent research into the reasons for this situation.
Let us remember that six months ago New Zealand doctors demanded that their salaries be increased to at least compensate for inflation.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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