KEY POINTS:
News that the full roll-out of the antenatal HIV screening programme will be delayed by up to a year is unacceptable, National Party associate health spokeswoman Jackie Blue said yesterday.
Announced in June 2005, the roll-out to all district health boards (DHBs) was to be completed by June this year, but only two DHBs, Waikato and Tairawhiti, are currently offering screening to pregnant women, Dr Blue said.
"Twelve other DHBs will hopefully be on board by the end of the year, with the final seven DHBs by June 2009," she said.
"This is just another broken promise by Labour."
Dr Blue said that since 2001, 12 children born in New Zealand have been diagnosed with HIV infection.
"The Waikato DHB, the first to offer screening as part of a pilot study, has proved that this test has been welcomed by women. Any teething problems with the screening should be well and truly sorted out."
- NZPA
