Foreign births in NZ put pressure on hospitals

12.00pm

The numbers of foreign mothers giving birth in New Zealand to get citizenship for their babies is causing problems for health services.

It was reported today that up to 500 foreign mothers were giving birth in this country each year to get citizenship for their babies.

Statistics New Zealand figures showed about 1300 non-residents gave birth in this country each year. About 500 (380 in 1999) of those were women from countries which did not have reciprocal health care arrangements with New Zealand.

The Waitemata District Health Board wrote to the Ministry of Health yesterday to clarify issues surrounding whether visiting and non-resident mothers can be charged for maternity services in this country.

Spokeswoman Caroline Mackersley said today rules gazetted in the late 1990s, under which birthing services were free to visitors and non-residents, were ambiguous.

Yesterday's letter was also drawing attention to the board's belief that rising numbers of visitors and non-residents giving birth were the cause for the number of births at Waitemata exceeding the expected number.

Waitemata had recently built a new maternity unit and it was already being used more heavily than the board would like it to be, she said.

The board was having to look at contracting for some extra services.

Mothers were asked their residency status, but under the present rules no further checks were done on the answers.

As a result, Waitemata did not know whether the information it had about visiting and non-resident mothers was accurate, or too low.

Maternity Services Consumer Council co-ordinator Lynda Williams said the issue of non-resident mothers coming to this country to give birth was of increasing concern to her organisation, which represented groups with an interest in maternity matters in the Auckland region.

Around half the phone calls and e-mails she received were from women who were non-residents, or not even in the country, who intended to be in New Zealand for the birth of their babies, she said.

While some of them had good reasons for being here, an increasing number were just intending to arrive at the end of their pregnancies, and to return to their homes straight after giving birth.

She had heard anecdotal accounts of an increasing number of women catching flights from Auckland to Korea with tiny newborn babies.

The issue did not just concern taxpayers' health dollars, in future she expected an impact on education spending as some of the youngsters born here returned for schooling.

In any case, the cost of the women coming here to give birth was a worry, Ms Williams said.

"These are precious health dollars, particularly if they are Asian women who have a much higher desire for caesarean sections and interventions."

She had written to Health Minister Annette King with her concerns about a month ago and had received a "disappointing" reply, saying the issue was being discussed with the Immigration Service.

The issue was highlighted this week at a Christchurch Coroner's inquest into the death of Hana Yanagawa. Her mother, Akiko Yanagawa, revealed in court she came to New Zealand solely to give birth and get her child New Zealand citizenship. They were considering moving to New Zealand permanently.

Christchurch Women's Hospital manager Pauline Burt confirmed yesterday that once a foreign woman was in labour, the costs of delivering the baby and the baby's care were met by taxpayers.

"Once labour begins, the Ministry of Health rules are that the woman is eligible to receive free care during the delivery of the baby and during the post-natal period including any neonatal care for the baby. This cost is met by the Ministry of Health's secondary/tertiary bulk funding arrangement for maternity services."

The care of an inpatient at Christchurch Women's -- someone who arrives at the hospital for treatment prior to labour -- costs $1000 a day.

If a woman stayed in hospital five days from the beginning of her labour, it would cost the taxpayer $5000.

Ms King has directed Ministry of Health staff to investigate the issue, and says if they "provide evidence" of any suspect increase in births, it will be pursued.

Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel said present immigration rules did not allow people to enter the country "just to have their baby", and wondered if "middle men" could be involved.

"Given that there has been an increase that you could term as significant, there is always the potential that there is a middle man. If there is any evidence of that we will act, and the penalties will be substantial."

Breaching visa or permit conditions would result in prosecution and hefty punishment, Ms Dalziel said.

- NZPA