Manaia Health PHO: free afterhours healthcare for under 6's

27TH October 2011

Manaia Health PHO welcomes free afterhours healthcare for under 6’s

Manaia Health PHO is applauding the announcement by Health Minister Tony Ryall to provide free after hours care for children under six.

“We have long advocated for the health needs of our children to be prioritised so this is a welcome move by the Government” says Manaia Health PHO Chief Executive Chris Farrelly.

Manaia Health PHO currently subsidises after hours visits to Whitecross for children under six so they only pay $5. “However we realise that even $5 for some is a barrier to access so being able to provide free visits will be of real benefit to those who need it most. Removing cost will enable people to access health care when they need it, and we know early diagnosis and treatment is so important particularly for our current major health concerns like meningitis and rheumatic fever,” says Mr Farrelly.

“We are of course interested in the details of this plan and look forward to seeing how quickly this can be implemented,” says Mr Farrelly.

“Free care for under-sixes is a huge step in the right direction as we know the early years of life have lasting impacts across their lifetime. Now we would like to see free primary health care for all children under 18. This is a bold goal but one that we shouldn’t back away from” says Mr Farrelly.

ENDS

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