PlunketLine
Tuesday, 11 April 2006
PlunketLine
"The Ministry of Health's decision to hand the invaluable PlunketLine service's contract to an international pharmaceutical distributor is unjustifiable and should be reversed" said Democrats for social credit Leader, Stephnie de Ruyter.
"Why does the government believe it needs to fix PlunketLine by walking away from it when PlunketLine isn't even broken?
"Plunket has provided sound, sensible advice and support to generations of New Zealand families. And through PlunketLine, this reliable service has been only a phone call away.
"Adequate, secure government funding to Plunket, could have ensured the continuation of this successful service but instead the Ministry intends that the contract, and the accompanying funding increase, be left in the hands of the US-based McKesson Corporation.
"New Zealand families want and need PlunketLine. Parents and caregivers trust Plunket nurses to advise them on the health care of their children. How could the same trust ever be placed in a multi-national corporation whose core business is the distribution of drugs?
"PlunketLine doesn't need fixing, it just needs funding" concluded Ms de Ruyter.
ENDS