Media Release

16 June 2003

Government Policy Sunk By Poor Resourcing And Buck-Passing. Diabetes Unchecked.

New Zealand First has called for the Government to increase funding so that its promise of free annual checks for diabetes can be honoured.

“Rather than take the regular ‘Annette King’ approach of blaming the Health Boards, the Government has to ensure that there is sufficient funding to ensure that diabetes checks are made regularly,” New Zealand First’s leader Winston Peters said.

“Four people die from the disease every day. Another 115,000 suffer from it and whilst it costs the country $180m every year we have a Government too mean spirited to pay the $40 for each screening test!

“The reason for creating all these District Health Boards has become abundantly clear. They have become a screen behind which the Minister of Health and her Government can hide under-funding, under-staffing, and under-performance of public health. It is time for the Minister to accept responsibility and ensure that fundamental programmes like the diabetes screening are fully funded and not at the whim of local decisions. The buck stops with her!” Mr Peters said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media