Chadwick Steve: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Chadwick Steve: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:622;Page:17670] 
2.  
STEVE CHADWICK (Labour—Rotorua) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Has she received any reports regarding the progress of primary health organisations? 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Health) 
: 
 Yes. There are now 3.7 million New Zealanders enrolled in primary health organisations—91 percent of the population. We knew primary health organisations were delivering cheaper health-care to many New Zealanders but after reading South Link Health’s survey of South Island primary health organisations released yesterday it seems that even greater reductions have occurred. Well over half the actual charges are less than the advertised fee or are free. I commend South Link Health’s members for their constructive approach in working with the Government to provide affordable primary health care. 
Steve Chadwick 
: Has the Minister seen any other reports regarding the future of primary health organisations? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I have seen many reports. The only report that concerns the health sector however is the flip-flop by National’s leader and his ever-changing health spokespeople on what they would do with the primary health organisations. He has gone from asking what they were last year to saying they would be gone by lunchtime this year. Meanwhile his spokespeople have ranged from scrapping them to revisiting the matter. But who knows? One gets dizzy from looking at their twists and turns and their flip-flops. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: If members interject they must expect a response. [ 
Interruption 
] The member is about to leave the Chamber. I will not have him make comments like that. He should be quiet. Supplementary question— 
Judith Collins 
: Judith Collins. I haven’t had my hair done like the Hon Annette King so there’s no excuse. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I apologise. 
Judith Collins 
: Is the Minister aware of a primary health organisation in the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board area offering special tax-paid taxi rides for people of Maori and Pasifika descent which are only available to other New Zealanders based on need; and is she happy that that district health board insists on race-based assistance for some races but needs-based assistance for others? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: Can I suggest the member has a perm. In answer to her question— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I know this is getting into the Christmas spirit but just reflecting on hairstyling I want to say that the last bit of Brylcreem I had in my hair was when I was about 9 and I still have quite a lot left. I call the Hon Annette King. 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: No I am not aware of it. If the member would like to provide the information I will certainly look at it. I can tell her that the Hawke’s Bay board like those in other parts of New Zealand does not provide race-based policies; it provides needs-based policies. The sooner that member works out that there are people who have needs the sooner she will become a better health spokesperson—or maybe she is about to be changed. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Why is access to primary health organisations at subsidised rates for elderly New Zealanders still dependent on where people live and when will she finally ensure that our senior citizens get universal access to subsidised primary health care? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: The member is quite a few months out of date. Since 1 July this year every person over 65 years of age anywhere in New Zealand in any primary health organisation has had subsidised primary health care. 
Heather Roy 
: Is it correct that primary health organisations that have more than 50 percent of their enrolled patients of Maori and Pacific Island descent get more Government funding than others and therefore their patients get cheaper doctors’ visits; if so why? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: Two years ago when we rolled out the primary health care strategy we rolled it out into areas with high need including low-income Maori and Pacific people. That was in the first year under access funding. Since then we have progressively rolled out money regardless of where people live based on age bands. I have never heard the member complain about giving cheaper care to old people—only to Maori and Pacific people.