RACP submission to Health Committee on the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the Policy and Advocacy team and Māori Health Committee made a submission to the Health Select Committee on the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill. 

Regarding the impact on the healthcare workforce, we:

• welcomed a focus on providing and planning for infrastructure but called for a well-planned, trained and supported workforce to provide health care on the ground.
• opposed the repeal of Te Mauri o Rongo | the NZ Health Charter (a set of principles for how all healthcare workers should be treated at work) as it undermines the commitment to a safe and supportive environment for healthcare workers.
• opposed the introduction of section 11A due to concerns that it could limit the ability of healthcare professionals to speak freely on matters of patient safety and system performance for fear of professional repercussions, undermining their ethical duties.
• opposed legislating health targets as they oversimplify health care and lead to resources being diverted from other services where they might do have more impact.

On 2 September, Dr Matt Wheeler FRACP, Chair of the Māori Health Committee, made an oral presentation to the Health Select Committee on behalf of the RACP.

You can watch Dr Wheeler's powerful statement (26:53 – 37:26).