Good progress for children coupled with recalcitrant inequalities for adults in New Zealand’s journey towards Universal Health Coverage over the last decade
Don Matheson, Johanna Reidy, Lee Tan, Julia Carr
Over the last decade, Children who are Maori, Pacific and or from deprived areas have been increasingly less likely to end up in hospital for conditions that are best treated by the GP or Nurse in the community. For Pacific middle aged adults, the reverse is true. They are ending up in hospital more frequently for conditions that could be treated in the community. The government health policies have had a positive impact on children, whereas the situation for adults is either deteriorating or not improving, and this is likely to be due to worsening of incomes, housing and other social conditions, as well as the cost of an appointment.
