Category: New Zealand Associations and Organisaitons

Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: How we can overcome cancer inequality in New Zealand

Māori are 20% more likely than non-Māori to get cancer, and nearly twice as likely to die from it, and addressing disparities in incidence and care will be a key focus of cancer strategy into the future. Public health physician Dr Nina Scott, chair of Hei Āhuru Mōwai, the national Māori cancer leadership group, says inequities exist at almost every step of the cancer-care pathway. Overall, Māori are diagnosed late, referred late, seen late and offered and receive treatment late and receive lower-quality treatment. She says Hei Āhuru Mōwai is working with leaders in the cancer sector to eliminate these differences.

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Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Health Minister fast-tracking cancer plan amid criticism

Health Minister David Clark is fast tracking a national action plan for cancer. It comes as a conference on cancer highlights major flaws in the public health system. The conference, held by Otago University and the Cancer Society, is discussing the way New Zealand delivers for cancer patients, and how a national approach could serve the public better. The Health Minister David Clark speaks to Susie Ferguson.

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Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Waitemata DHB survey highlights severe hospital specialist shortages and stress

“A survey of senior doctors at the Waitemata District Health Board highlights the stress felt by heads of department as they try to make do with too few staff”, says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists.

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Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Meningococcal disease cases on the rise in NZ

New figures out today show a steady increase in cases of meningococcal disease in New Zealand since 2014, including those of group W, the strain responsible for the outbreak in Northland. Professor Martin Maiden has been researching the deadly disease for more than 20 years.

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Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Research highlights hospital specialist shortage

New Zealand needs at least another 1000 medical specialists to meet our growing health needs. That is the finding of two separate assessments of New Zealand’s specialist workforce needs in a new research paper published by the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).

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Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Opioid-related deaths associated with pharmaceutical marketing of opioid products

Almost 400,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses between 1999 and 2017, and 47,600 deaths occurred in 2017 (67.8% of deaths related to drug overdoses for that year), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Among all opioid-related deaths, approximately 40% were due to involvement with prescription opioids—the first opioids individuals with opioid use disorder usually encounter.

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Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: DHBs acting irresponsibly in Resident Medical Officer industrial dispute

By refusing the Medical Council’s offer to facilitate talks in the escalating industrial dispute affecting public hospitals, District Health Boards are putting hardworking hospital staff under increasing pressure and risk creating alarm among patients, Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director Ian Powell says.

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Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: NZMA’s seven actions to mitigate health and climate change

NZMA recommends the following seven actions to address climate change.  “Seven actions to make change happen.”  As medical professionals we have a responsibility to advocate for strong action to address climate change for health of all New Zealanders and globally” says Dr Kate Baddock Chair of the NZMA.

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Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Unions urge Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira (Ora Toa Health) to find compassion this Christmas

Council of Trade Unions Secretary Sam Huggard says that he is appalled health workers at one of the highest-needs health providers in the country are being forced into industrial action again today and potentially on Christmas Eve because of the hard hearts of their employer.

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Source: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Hopes high for positive change following mental health and addictions review

The Mental Health and Addiction inquiry report released this month by Health Minister David Clark is the most significant review of the sector since the 1990s and looks set to lead to an overhaul of services. It’s prompted discussion about the role of the state and health professionals in an issue with wide social and community drivers. In an article for ASMS, Wellington forensic psychiatrist Justin Barry-Walsh argues both for broad social change and an immediate increase in resources to deal with pressures in the sector. 

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