Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Why are we moaning about the pharmacy announcement?

We can be a bunch of moaners in this country, can’t we?

Now, from my point of view, that announcement yesterday - which we talked about on the show - that pharmacists may soon be able to hand out a range of publicly funded medicines without patients having to go to a GP first, is a no-brainer.

Steven Gaskell: A Cure for Everything – As Long as It’s “Inclusive”

Māori call dementia “mate wareware,” which translates roughly to “the sickness of forgetfulness.” The phrase itself is fairly new , made up in 2017 by Dr Makarena Dudley and her team at the University of Auckland. Apparently, Dr Dudley has also found the answer to dementia but only through a cultural adaptation. Her Haumanu Whakaohooho Whakāro programme takes the globally recognised Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, gives it a uniquely local lens, and delivers it on marae with a bit of cultural atmosphere. Admirable? Certainly. But here’s the catch: we’re all paying for it.

Clive Bibby: Dealing with realities

I have recently returned home after a couple of days in the local regional hospital. 

In the latter 24hours after the health professionals had diagnosed what was wrong with me and taken the initial steps prescribing medicines that would put me on the road to recovery, time began to drag while waiting for an honourable discharge. 

Mike Yardley: The next raid on your wallet will be no accident

If you’ve been reeling in horror at the size of your latest council rates bill, or gasping at the ongoing hikes to your home insurance premiums, there’s another agency lining up a deeper dive into your finances.

Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) has grand designs on lifting its levies by double or triple the rate of inflation. Why? Supposedly it’s costing more and taking longer for injured Kiwis to recover, so ACC is consulting on fattening up its coffers.