ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The provision of primary health care is an integral part of both a country's health system, and of the overall social and economic development of its communities. An adequate general practice and primary health care workforce is a prerequisite to the provision of good primary health care. Countries with stronger primary health care services have better health and much lower health costs. This paper reports the results of the RNZCGP's 2007 annual membership survey and discusses workforce development in urban and rural New Zealand (NZ). METHOD: In 2007, the RNZCGP sent a survey form to all its financial members as part of the annual subscriptions mail-out to gather data about College members' current working patterns and help construct a longitudinal view of work preferences and hours worked per week. RESULTS: The response rate was 59% (1995 members/participants: 1098 males (55%) and 897 females). More female GPs (86%) worked in urban centres than male GPs (83%). NZ European GPs were overrepresented (67%) in the South Island when compared to their representation within the total population. Numbers of international medical graduates (IMGs) had increased in urban centres since 2005. All regions experienced a decrease in self-employed GPs. Rural GPs spend more hours per week in general practice than urban GPs. CONCLUSION: The GP workforce is an integral part of the NZ primary health care workforce, and is currently facing many challenges. Stakeholders need to ensure that NZ remains an attractive primary health care environment in order to retain NZ-trained GPs and attract IMGs.
Subject(s)
Family Practice , Rural Health Services , Urban Health Services , Adult , Aged , Ethnicity , Female , Foreign Medical Graduates/supply & distribution , Health Care Surveys , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , New Zealand , Physicians/supply & distribution , WorkforceABSTRACT
The widespread use of Kura/Noni came to the attention of researchers from both the University of the South Pacific and the Fiji School of Medicine. Amongst other associated research undertakings to better understand the use and potential benefits of this herbal medicine, a nationwide qualitative research was undertaken from September 2002-February 2004. Interviews, participant observation and participatory activities involved over 400 respondents. These research activities showed Kura is thought to be beneficial for a large number of ailments that ranged from skin conditions to high blood pressure. In total Kura has been reported to be useful for 66 medical conditions and 1 spiritual application. Based on the findings of the Research Team, it is concluded that there is sufficient grounds to proceed further with the next two phases of this research project: biochemical analysis to identify the active ingredients in the different parts of the plant, and later clinical trials to determine opportunities for developing pharmaceutical drugs.
Subject(s)
Digestive System Diseases/drug therapy , Morinda , Musculoskeletal Diseases/drug therapy , Phytotherapy , Plant Preparations , Respiratory Tract Infections/drug therapy , Adult , Digestive System Diseases/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Integumentary System/physiopathology , Interviews as Topic , Male , Middle Aged , Musculoskeletal Diseases/epidemiology , Pacific Islands/epidemiology , Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The adoption of bureaucratic management systems in Pacific health care systems has been without much effort to accommodate Pacific cultural values and practices. Some features of Pacific culture fit well with the common features of bureaucracy, while others do not. Pacific cultural values of support for the individual by extended families have the potential to enhance the health system. We contend that the Pacific nations ought to develop management systems that will accommodate bureaucratic needs or organisation and the cultural needs and strengths of the people who work within them and use them.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Health/ethnology , Community Health Services/standards , Cultural Competency , Delivery of Health Care/standards , Social Values/ethnology , Appointments and Schedules , Community Health Services/organization & administration , Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , Humans , Medicine, Traditional , Pacific Islands , Patient Satisfaction/ethnology , Patient-Centered Care , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Fiji is currently implementing health care reforms with the first phase of reforms focusing on decentralization of the health system. Part of this effort focuses on looking at financing options. Some options for financing health care include private health insurance, social insurance, community financing, user-pays system (out-of-pocket), health savings accounts, government taxation and subsidies, and overseas loans and aid funding. This paper addresses all these options in detail and provides an analysis into each of these options relevance to Fiji and in some instances to other nations in the South Pacific region. Given the relative small populations of Fiji and its neighbouring nations, a regional approach to financing could prove more viable in the longer-term, however political, social, economic, legal and cultural issues will need to seriously explored.
