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Don’t cut health targets says Diabetes New Zealand
Don’t cut health targets says Diabetes New Zealand
Diabetes New Zealand President Mike Smith says that any cuts to funding for diabetes health targets would be of serious concern.
Responding to suggestions the Government may be looking at trimming some of the current health targets, Mike Smith said Diabetes New Zealand wanted to see the targets, in particular the diabetes-related ones, retained. A measure of their success was that 74% of all New Zealanders with diabetes are now managing their diabetes.
“Such successes directly achieved through these targets improve health outcomes for New Zealanders. They enable diabetes to be measured, the hotspots to be identified, and for resources to be mobilized to deal with them.
“Diabetes targets also motivate agencies and diabetes groups to work together. We want to see this collaboration continuing in the future.”
Mike Smith said Diabetes New Zealand would be keen to meet with Health Minister Tony Ryall to discuss the Government’s plans for the health targets and to help provide solutions for battling New Zealand’s diabetes epidemic.
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Additional Information
· Diabetes free checks: Most District Health Boards (DHBs) are tracking to meet their targets for Pacific and other ethnicities, with DHBs reaching 50 percent of the total targeted population accessing free checks—against a national target of 53 percent.
· Diabetes Management: The "total ethnicity" target of 73 percent has been achieved at a national level with 74 percent. Five DHBs are achieving their targets for this indicator.
Published on this website on Mon, 20 Apr 2009