Free taxi not based on race says PHO

A free taxi service to transport Maori, Pacific Island and some low-income European patients to their appointments is being defended by its funders.

The free taxis are available to all Maori and Pacific Islanders, regardless of their income, but only to Europeans living within certain Napier streets or holding a community service card or high-user health card.

They are provided by Napier Taxis and funded through the Hawkes Bay Primary Health Organisation (PHO) under its "service to improve access" funding formula.

PHO chairman Hamish Kynoch said the taxi service improved access to health services for high-need health groups in Napier.

It was a way to get patients from deprived areas in Napier to their GPs' surgeries if they had difficulty making an appointment, he said.

Mr Kynoch denied the service was race based.

The primary health strategy was set up to direct funding to those people with high health needs, he said.

Ministry of Health information showed the health of Maori, Pacific Islanders and people from deprived areas was "significantly worse" that other New Zealanders.

It made sense to direct the limited funding to those groups that were most in need, Mr Kynoch said.

By 2007 the ministry hoped to extend the funding and make healthcare cheaper for all users of primary health, he said.

It had already become cheaper for 5-to-18-year-olds and those over 65.

The scheme is funded in the same way as the free diabetes clinics.

The clinics, free to all Maori and Pacific Islanders, were initially available to Europeans who lived in specific streets but were eventually extended to all community service or high-user health card holders.

Mr Kynoch said if the patient could not make an appointment they would contact the receptionist at the surgery, who would then book a taxi for the patient if they fulfilled the criteria.

"A number of GPs already run their own bus services to get patients to and from appointments," he said.

The funding was allocated on the basis it would reduce health inequalities and barriers to accessing health services.

- NZPA