A pharmaceutical rule change during Covid-19 restricting the dispensing of funded community medicine to one month’s supply at a time, has been embraced by the Pacific community, says a senior pharmacist.

Nursing director and member of the Pasifika Medical Association Membership Board, Abel Smith says the Covid-19 crisis has brought out the best in Pacific nurses and helped them develop further knowledge of how to care for their community.

Samoan GP and PMA member Dr Maryann Heather says not much has changed for patients since the move to Level 1, as people and medical clinics continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Failure to address the high health needs of Pacific people in the health and disability sector review is the final report’s most important omission, writes Dr Collin Tukuitonga.

Twenty-eight-year-old Mosana Evagelia grew up in Samoa and recalls her experience volunteering in the hospitals that peaked her interest in a career in medicine.

Invercargill based surgeon and Pasifika Medical Association member Dr George Ngaei FRACS is among those recognised in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours list. He was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to health and the Pacific community. Throughout his career as an endoscopic and gastrointestinal surgeon Ngaei has used his expertise to address Pasifika inequity in various aspects of the medical industry in order to improve and uplift community access to health services.

Nineteen-year-old Ateliana Taufa, is on a mission to make treatments and visits to the dentist more affordable for her community.

Aiono Professor Dr Alec Ekeroma was elated when he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the latest Queen’s Birthday Honours for his services to health and the community.

Hauora Tairāwhiti DHB is pleased to open applications for an Advanced Paediatric Trainee in our Paediatric Department at Gisborne Hospital, Tairāwhiti. Please follow link below:...

Twenty-year-old Lorenzo Havili remembers his grandfather always wanting one of his grandchildren to become a doctor. As the eldest of five siblings and the first person in his family to attend university, he decided it was up to him to pursue the medical dream.

From providing sewing machines to women in Samoan villages so they can earn money to advocating for Pacific women at the United Nations. These are some of the many causes Tofilau Bernadette Pereira has championed throughout her life, which was recognised at this year’s Queen’s birthday honours, for her services to women and the Pacific community.

International evidence suggests it is helpful for a nation’s health workforce to mirror the diversity in the population of its communities. The global literature is unequivocal that concordance between the health care provider and user (patient) improves patient outcomes. Health care users (patients) also report positive experiences of their interactions with health care providers of the same ethnic origin. It is not difficult to conclude that better health outcomes will reduce ethnic inequities in health that has been a chronic feature of the NZ health care system. Ultimately, better health outcomes for those who have high health needs is good for the nation as a whole.