Health Ministry committed to increasing New Zealanders' awareness about importance of primary health care
A strong primary health care system is central to improving the health of all New Zealanders and reducing health inequalities between different groups.
The Government is investing $2.2 billion over seven years to support the implementation of the Primary Health Care Strategy. The funding investment has seen the universal roll out of cheaper fees for patients' visiting their regular GP or nurse, a wider range of innovative primary health care services, and reduced prescription charges.
A public information campaign about the cheaper fees and the wider range of services now provided by PHOs will screen on Family Health Diary for six weeks from 23 September. Further detailed information about primary health care services will be available in the Family Health Diary magazine; from the Ministry of Health website and through the free information phone line: 0800 020007
These ads will kick start a longer term public information campaign which is planned to begin in 2008.
The Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring that New Zealanders know how to get the best out of the wider range of health services now available from their local GPs, nurses, other health professionals and community providers who provide health care in association with Primary Health Organisations (PHOs).
Interim Deputy-Director General Sector Capability and Innovation, Dr Colin Feek, says there are now 82 PHOs, covering 95 percent of the population or around 4 million New Zealanders.
On 1 July 2007 the final Primary Health Care funding rollout occurred for 25 to 44 year olds, so now all age groups get reduced general practice fees and $3 pharmaceutical co-payments.
"Now that all of the funding for PHOs has been rolled out and the majority of the population is now enrolled with a PHO, it is important that we continue to remind New Zealanders about the primary health care services available to them and the valuable role these services play in helping keep them well." Dr Feek says.
Health Ministry committed to increasing New Zealanders' awareness about importance of primary health care
A strong primary health care system is central to improving the health of all New Zealanders and reducing health inequalities between different groups.
The Government is investing $2.2 billion over seven years to support the implementation of the Primary Health Care Strategy. The funding investment has seen the universal roll out of cheaper fees for patients' visiting their regular GP or nurse, a wider range of innovative primary health care services, and reduced prescription charges.
A public information campaign about the cheaper fees and the wider range of services now provided by PHOs will screen on Family Health Diary for six weeks from 23 September. Further detailed information about primary health care services will be available in the Family Health Diary magazine; from the Ministry of Health website and through the free information phone line: 0800 020007
These ads will kick start a longer term public information campaign which is planned to begin in 2008.
The Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring that New Zealanders know how to get the best out of the wider range of health services now available from their local GPs, nurses, other health professionals and community providers who provide health care in association with Primary Health Organisations (PHOs).
Interim Deputy-Director General Sector Capability and Innovation, Dr Colin Feek, says there are now 82 PHOs, covering 95 percent of the population or around 4 million New Zealanders.
On 1 July 2007 the final Primary Health Care funding rollout occurred for 25 to 44 year olds, so now all age groups get reduced general practice fees and $3 pharmaceutical co-payments.
"Now that all of the funding for PHOs has been rolled out and the majority of the population is now enrolled with a PHO, it is important that we continue to remind New Zealanders about the primary health care services available to them and the valuable role these services play in helping keep them well." Dr Feek says.