Health Minister Little Offers Few Solutions But Refuses to Call Situation a Crisis When Questioned by Medical Specialists
November 25, 2022
PHOTO: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Even after hearing the testimonies from workers, there was a word the minister was still avoiding.
When asked: “When are you going to acknowledge that New Zealand is in a healthcare crisis?” the minister said he had “repeatedly acknowledged the incredibly challenging circumstances that we’re in”.
“The challenge for me is to work with the people I have to work alongside to address those challenges, and find the fixes to the problems,” he said.
A ferocious winter, on top of a pandemic, had highlighted the pre-existing issues within the system.
“Even before Covid the health system was facing major challenges, because of funding, or a lack of it, and a failure of funding to keep pace with population growth, amongst other things,” Little said.