Health funding concerns Council

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 599, 15 August 1995, Page 1

Health funding concerns Council

There was unanimous support from fellow councillors when cr Bob Peck presented a Notice of Motion regarding rural hospital funding to last Friday's Ruapehu District Council meeting in Taumarunui. "The notice of motion read: That this District Council request the Minister of Health to review the present formula for the distribution of health funds on the basis of population. That the Minister recommend that Government Health Department Policy and Procedure automatically provide for rural premium to take into account the following factors: isolation, topography; climate; seasonal fluctuations in the population base and; the availability of public transport' and ' that the Minister treat this issue as a matter of urgency with appropriate immediate action'. Speaking to the motion Cr Peck said that he had been concerned for a number of years about the Government' s funding policy for rural communities - particularly with regard to Taumarunui and Waimarino hospitals. "These two communities in Taumarunui and Waimarino don't measure up with the formula laid down by the existing Health Department guidelines", he said. "The present formula is based on population and the age/gender components of each community and not on these other factors such as topography, climate, isolation and lack of public transport". He said " there had been no attempt to achieve equity in the structures between the various RHAs (Regional Health Authorities) and under the present formula for allocation of funds, never ever could there be equity for rural communities such is Taumarunui and Waimarino". "Yet these two communities (despite their size and population) are making a substantial contribution to the country' s economy". Cr Ellen Gould, who seconded the motion, said she was in "total support" of Cr Peck. Cr Joe Murphy said that: "historically we have always been under funded in this area". When the vote was taken there was unanimous support from all councillors.