Seymour and Doocey pop up with positive press statements while Kiwis are digesting data which reflects health worries
David Seymour, Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac, chose a good day to enthuse about the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis thanks to the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac.
He wasn’t announcing a new initiative. His press statement – rather – reminded us how many billion dollars the Government has injected into Pharmac.
It has allocated Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, “so that it can get on and do its job – negotiating the best deals for medicine for New Zealanders”.
But didn’t we know that already?
Earlier in the day we had learned of a new poll which found health is a big issue for Kiwis.
RNZ reported:
With emergency departments under pressure and in some cases temporarily closed, health is increasingly front of mind for New Zealanders, a new poll suggests.
The issue has climbed to number two in New Zealand – heights not seen since the Covid lockdowns – with inflation continuing to hold the top spot despite a slow decline.
The Ipsos New Zealand survey released to RNZ was carried out between 16 and 23 August, and asked New Zealanders what they thought were the top three most important issues facing the country today.
The economy is climbing the rankings, rising to third, while crime/law and order has dropped to similar levels seen in February. Housing/price of housing as an issue has dropped to fifth place, hitting a record low for the survey of 27 percent.
The issue of healthcare/hospitals increased to 40 percent in August, up significantly from the May survey’s 31 percent.
Ipsos New Zealand managing director, Carin Hercock, was reported as saying healthcare “has had a significant increase in importance as an issue, now at levels higher than seen when Covid first reached New Zealand in March 2020 and when community spread of Covid took hold in October 2021”.
Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey had something more time-specific to declare.
Rural Women New Zealand today is announcing the recipients of scholarships, which range between $2,500 and $5,000, to assist students from rural backgrounds continue their study in healthcare.
The students receiving these scholarships are currently studying a range of specialties from Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Māori Nursing and Applied Counselling.
Nursing – and Maori nursing?
The influence of the Treaty, obviously.
Let’s hear now from Erica Stanford, who has a job which must be challenging for the sign-writers who must spell it out on her office door.
She is Minister in charge of the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions.
Her news is that a Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission “to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care”.
Brooke van Velden, Minister of Internal Affairs, brought us up to day with development in says passport processing.
Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has congratulated New Zealand’s Paralympic Team.
And some new appointments – to the Financial Markets Authority board and the District Court – have been announced.
It has allocated Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, “so that it can get on and do its job – negotiating the best deals for medicine for New Zealanders”.
But didn’t we know that already?
Earlier in the day we had learned of a new poll which found health is a big issue for Kiwis.
RNZ reported:
With emergency departments under pressure and in some cases temporarily closed, health is increasingly front of mind for New Zealanders, a new poll suggests.
The issue has climbed to number two in New Zealand – heights not seen since the Covid lockdowns – with inflation continuing to hold the top spot despite a slow decline.
The Ipsos New Zealand survey released to RNZ was carried out between 16 and 23 August, and asked New Zealanders what they thought were the top three most important issues facing the country today.
The economy is climbing the rankings, rising to third, while crime/law and order has dropped to similar levels seen in February. Housing/price of housing as an issue has dropped to fifth place, hitting a record low for the survey of 27 percent.
The issue of healthcare/hospitals increased to 40 percent in August, up significantly from the May survey’s 31 percent.
Ipsos New Zealand managing director, Carin Hercock, was reported as saying healthcare “has had a significant increase in importance as an issue, now at levels higher than seen when Covid first reached New Zealand in March 2020 and when community spread of Covid took hold in October 2021”.
Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey had something more time-specific to declare.
Rural Women New Zealand today is announcing the recipients of scholarships, which range between $2,500 and $5,000, to assist students from rural backgrounds continue their study in healthcare.
The students receiving these scholarships are currently studying a range of specialties from Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Māori Nursing and Applied Counselling.
Nursing – and Maori nursing?
The influence of the Treaty, obviously.
Let’s hear now from Erica Stanford, who has a job which must be challenging for the sign-writers who must spell it out on her office door.
She is Minister in charge of the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions.
Her news is that a Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission “to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care”.
Brooke van Velden, Minister of Internal Affairs, brought us up to day with development in says passport processing.
Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has congratulated New Zealand’s Paralympic Team.
And some new appointments – to the Financial Markets Authority board and the District Court – have been announced.
Latest from the Beehive
9 September 2024
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac.
Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has congratulated New Zealand’s Paralympic Team at the conclusion of the Paralympic Games in Paris.
6 September 2024
A Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care.
Passport wait times back on-track
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says passport processing has returned to normal, and the Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is now advising customers to allow up to two weeks to receive their passport.
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister has today announced three new appointments and one reappointment to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) board.
Attorney-General Hon Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new District Court judges.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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