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What is a Māori Health Plan?

There are a range of reasons for Māori Health inequities. We know that around 20% of health inequities are attributed to health, the other 80% come from social factors such as poverty, cold damp housing etc.

The impact of colonisation is wide reaching and still affects Māori today. Acknowledging inequities exist is the first step in addressing inequities.

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What is a Māori Health Plan?

Foundation Standard Māori Health Plan Tūroro | Patients - Indicator 3: Rights and health needs of Māori

A Māori health plan is essential in addressing equity. It describes how the practice plans to reduce disparities and includes the practice’s Māori demographics. The plan can be linked to the local district health board or other primary health organisation’s Māori health plan. Practices should consider how they establish priorities for Māori health with Māori members of the community or Māori health providers. Practice team members should use the plan as a tool to ensure health equity for Māori is a target for new and existing priorities.

The Māori Health Plan Describes How the Practice Will:

• Commit to the Treaty of Waitangi and the principles articulated from the Wai 2575 claim. • Address Māori health equity priority areas and specific practice population issues for

Māori to improve access to appropriate and affordable primary health services (the

Government has identified a range of priority areas in He Korowai Oranga: Māori

Health Strategy for improving Māori health). • Implement measures to address equity priority areas as stated in He Korowai Oranga:

Māori Health Strategy. • Deliver targeted equitable services for the enrolled Māori population; ensure ethnicity data on Māori are available and robust; and establish priorities for Māori in the practice and set goals that will benefit their health outcomes. • Demonstrate that they are making additional efforts to address the needs of Māori.

These efforts might include: o Having specific targets and timelines, for example, measure statins in Māori versus non-Māori. o Encouraging enrolment of Māori patients on specific programmes such as Ministry of Health and district health board programmes in chronic care management. o Identifying and addressing any barriers for Māori to access the practice services (such as inaccessible appointments).

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