A Historic Event for New Zealand Health Care

The New Zealand Charter of
Health Practitioners Incorporated

P.O. Box 36 588 Northcote, Auckland. Phone:-443 6255. Fax:-443 2336.
Email@healthcharter.org.nz

International Media Release         Monday, June 19, 2000

A Historic event for New Zealand Healthcare.

Health Minister Annette King has confirmed the establishment of a ministerial advisory committee for complimentary healthcare.

The move to establish a complementary healthcare advisory committee is an historic event in the annals of New Zealand Healthcare. This is the first time in New Zealands history that a Minister of the Crown has formally recognised complementary healthcare.

In making the announcement Ms. King said it is the right time, during the continuing development of the New Zealand Health Strategy, to be considering all aspects of healthcare and the role alternative and complimentary medicine can play in promoting better health for New Zealanders."

The Green Party proposal adopted by Health Minister Annette King is the first positive move by any political party or government in the last sixty-two years, since the establishment of socialised medicine in 1938. Not only does this progressive move come about through consumer demand, in a country where up to 60% of the population attend alternative healthcare practitioners, but possibly also because of the crisis in healthcare brought about by a decreased number of doctors and nurses resulting in a reduction of services.

The Complimentary Healthcare Advisory Committee is recognised by health practitioners as a new approach to improve healthcare services

An initiative by the New Zealand Charter of Health Practitioners Incorporated. The Complimentary Healthcare advisory Committee proposal was adopted as a priority by the Green Party through the office of Health Spokesperson Sue Kedgley MP who sees this move as a first step towards integrating complementary healthcare into the health system.

Australia, Canada and the USA already have fully fledged departments of alternative or complementary healthcare, recognising the health needs of the consuming public.

This move by Health Minister Annette King and Green Party Spokesperson Sue Kedgley clearly indicates that New Zealands coalition government is capable of arriving at a consensus opinion in the interest of consumers.

Ms Kedgley Green Party Spokesperson for Health stated that Its time to acknowledge that there are other healing practices which are effective in preventing disease and treating some illnesses in a low-tech, cost effective way."

The New Zealand Charter of Health Practitioners Incorporated is the largest group of alternative healthcare practitioners in the Southern Hemisphere directly representing in excess of 5,000 members involved in alternative healthcare who requested the creation of an advisory committee by the Ministry of health some six years ago.

The new Coalition Government is actively developing new health strategies and have, in the opinion of New Zealand Health Practitioners, made a positive step by recognising the vital role that alternative healthcare can play in reducing costs, while improving services. The registration of qualified practitioners and the integration of alternative healthcare into the public health system is seen by many to be long overdue. This move is also seen as a positive guarantee of quality healthcare.

For additional information please contact the Charter Office, phone (09) 443 6255 (09) 443 2336 or email@healthcharter.org.nz

Patrick F. Fahy
CEO. The New Zealand Charter of Health Practitioners Inc.