New Zealand First has released its plan to “Make NZ Healthy”, promising to put prevention at the centre of healthcare if re-elected.<\/p>\n
A policy document released on Sunday said the country had an “epidemic of chronic illness” that overwhelmed hospitals and put pressure on the economy.<\/p>\n
“It’s time for new thinking with a bold shift from treating illness to preventing it.” the document said.<\/p>\n
It includes a number of pledges; embedding good nutrition into the New Zealand Curriculum, focusing on metabolic health to prevent chronic illness, funding research into how nutrition can prevent or treat mental illness, funding a review of how vitamin D can maintain health and investing in hospital trials of how effective intravenous vitamin C pre- and post-surgery is for treating infection.<\/p>\n
The full list of pledges:<\/p>\n
– Focus on metabolic health as a driver of chronic illness<\/p>\n
– Make sure written consent is a core part of healthcare<\/p>\n
– Let patients make their own decisions about health<\/p>\n
– Embed good nutrition in the New Zealand curriculum<\/p>\n
– Launch an independent review of the country’s dietary guidelines<\/p>\n
– Reduce admin and “restore professional autonomy” for GPs<\/p>\n
– Let health coaches support GPs in primary care<\/p>\n
– Make sure nurses get fair compensation, better working conditions and access to mental health support<\/p>\n
– Fund New Zealand scientists to assess nutritional interventions for preventing and treating mental illness<\/p>\n
– Remove Medsafe and Pharmac barriers to “recognised safe nutrients”<\/p>\n
– Invest in hospital trials to assess the effectiveness of intravenous vitamin C pre- and post-surgery for preventing and treating infections<\/p>\n
– Fund a review of vitamin D and determine optimal levels for maintaining health<\/p>\n
– Invest in agriculture to improve productivity, soil health, sustainability and resilience while researching practical alternatives to potentially harmful agricultural sprays<\/p>\n
– Provide more support for organic food producers.<\/p>\n
In a media release, a party spokesperson said other parties’ solutions to health were more spending on medicines and treatment instead of funding prevention of the causes of illness.<\/p>\n
“By supporting healthier lifestyles, early intervention and stronger communities, we can keep New Zealanders healthier, reduce pressure on hospitals, and build a more sustainable health system,” the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
“Having adequate funding for medicines is an essential part of the health system but should not be the goal nor seen as the solution – it will only ever manage the decline of our country’s health.”<\/p>\n