As a measure to help close the widening socio-economic gap in Northland, free doctor visits and prescriptions for children under 13 were announced today.
It will be rolled out today in Northland, ahead of the proposed national roll out next year.
This is the announcement of free doctor’s visits and prescriptions for all children across Northland.
Due to the great need in the North, the district health board along with Northland PHOs are rolling this out ahead of the proposed national roll-out from July 1, 2015.
Deanna Niha says, “We see it on a daily basis here with some of our whānau who are struggling from day-to-day just to put food on the table, so this initiative I think will help us in Tai Tokerau immensely.”
Dawn Hohua says, “It would make a big difference. I'm not the richest person in the world but I do everything that I need to do to make sure that my family is happy and safe.”
The district health board and Northland PHOs are adamant that free GP visits for children is but one of many initiatives here in Northland aimed at bridging the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots.
In time, we shall reap the benefits of this investment in our future leaders.