Turia distressed by Maori health report

Tariana Turia

Maori are more likely to suffer inadequate health care than Pakeha and other ethnic groups, a new study suggests.

Fourteen per cent of Maori hospital admissions were associated with a health care mistake, compared with 11 per cent of non-Maori admissions, according to a study published today in Britain's Lancet medical journal.

Eight out of 10 of all the "adverse events" occurred in hospitals, the rest in other health care settings like general practice or resthomes. About 1 per cent were considered severe (causing death or long-term disability) and preventable.

The study's authors say it suggests Maori were more likely to receive "sub-optimum care" in hospitals, but they were unable to explain the reasons.

"... we noted few clues as to any distinct pattern of hospital-quality issues for Maori - for example, areas identified as important for prevention of adverse events were similar for both groups."

The study also notes that Maori suffer "substantial disadvantages" in health status compared with New Zealand's majority Pakeha population.

"For example, Maori life expectancy at birth is about 8.5 years lower than for non-Maori."

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said the study was deeply distressing.

"How many reports do we have to receive before this Government wakes up to the reality of racism."

She referred to an Asthma and Respiratory Foundation report stating that bias and discrimination were commonly cited barriers for Maori in accessing health care.

And she highlighted a report on ethnic health disparities which "urges us to think about other questions such as why survival from cancer, even adjusting for age and stage, is lower among Maori than non-Maori".

The report's author, Professor Peter Davis from the University of Auckland, said, "despite a predominantly publicly funded hospital system, our findings suggest that hospital care received by Maori is marginally poorer than that received by New Zealand citizens of non-Maori/non-Pacific origin."

Health Minister Pete Hodgson said even though the report's data were eight years old, they were alarming. The Health Ministry would carefully examine the research and report back with a full analysis.

He said the research supported Labour policies aimed at reducing inequalities.

- additional reporting by NZPA