The study revealed that more patients were sicker when they arrived at emergency departments (EDs) compared to 10 years ago. A public health expert is urging the government to increase disease prevention efforts, following a study that shows one-third of New Zealanders have unmet health needs.
The study, conducted by the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, found a significant unmet need for general practitioner (GP) services and specialists (34.3 percent and 5.1 percent respectively). The actual numbers could be higher as the study did not account for the lack of after-hours care, cost-related unfilled prescriptions, and other factors.
Professor Boyd Swinburn from Auckland University, who also co-chairs the Health Coalition Aotearoa, supports the study’s recommendation for more prevention efforts to address the root causes of diseases. He criticized the government for repealing the Smokefree Environments Bill and considering cuts to school lunches, which he believes are steps backward in disease prevention.
Swinburn emphasized the need for the government to address major health issues caused by alcohol, smoking, and unhealthy food, which are putting a strain on hospitals and contributing to disease burdens.
The study also noted that nearly 1.3 million people visited public hospital EDs in 2022/23, a 22.5 percent increase from 2013/14. Patients were also more seriously ill, with two-thirds having immediate or potentially life-threatening conditions, up from half in the previous period.
Swinburn believes these are signs of a health system that is not effectively preventing diseases. He suggested that certain policies, such as alcohol regulations and taxes on sugary drinks, could quickly reduce the burden on hospitals and healthcare systems. He added that there’s no need for more reviews or inquiries, as the solutions are already known but not implemented.
