Whakatāne Mayor Urges health Minister to Resist Healthcare Privatization

Whakatāne Mayor Victor Luca has pleaded with the Health Minister to not allow the privatization and Americanization of New Zealand’s healthcare system.

Dr luca, a research scientist and president of Whakatāne Gray Power, was granted a half hour to make his case to Health Minister Simeon Brown in Auckland on Thursday.

He was joined in his meeting by fellow Whakatāne Grey Power members, Raewyn Kingsley-Smith, Suzanne Williams, Vern scheffer and Catrina Jones.

Dr Luca has been seeking the meeting since April. “I was blown over because I wasn’t expecting a response,” Dr Luca said.

Before the meeting, he told Local Democracy Reporting he would be asking Mr Brown not to take the route toward privatization.

“We do not want a health system that in any way resembles what goes on in the United States,where the health service is dominated by private businesses,” Dr Luca said.

He said there was a widening gap between health services for the 35 percent of New Zealanders who could afford health insurance and the 65 percent who couldn’t.

“We are definitely headed towards a two-tiered system like they have in the United States.”

Mr Brown said his priority was ensuring all New Zealanders had access to timely, quality healthcare.

“New Zealanders don’t care who does their operation – they just want it done, and done quickly,” he said.

he said he greatly valued the possibility to meet with local mayors and to discuss the health issues that mattered most in their communities.

Dr Luca asked Mr Brown for “definitive proof” that privatization would improve healthcare access and quality. He expressed concern that a shift towards private control could exacerbate existing inequalities within the system.

key Takeaways

• Whakatāne Mayor Victor Luca met with Health Minister Simeon Brown to voice concerns about healthcare privatization.
• Dr Luca fears a two-tiered healthcare system similar to the United States,where access to quality care is heavily influenced by insurance coverage.
• The Mayor emphasized the importance of equitable access to healthcare for all New Zealanders.
• Health Minister Brown stated his priority is ensuring all New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare.