title: The case for a systematic policy approach to free primary health care for vulnerable groups in New Zealand.
abstract: Unmet health care needs and health inequities are prevalent in New Zealand. Throughout New Zealand's history, the power dynamic between general practitioners, as a professional group, and the government has contributed to policies directed at primary-care access barriers not being fully realised. This has given 'third sector' (non-government, non-profit) clinics a continuing role in delivering primary care services to vulnerable populations. The viability of free clinics, 18 of which were identified in our survey, is threatened by their funding and staffing structures. We contend that general practitioners have a stake in reducing health inequities and that there is a strong case for a more systematic policy approach to primary health care provision for vulnerable populations in New Zealand.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice and Rural Health, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054. lik_wei@mac.com.
authors.forename: Lik
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: Siobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trevallyan
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Main
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Revell
authors.forename: Vivienne
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patton
authors.forename: Akindele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ojo
mesh_terms: D058005:General Practitioners; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000191:economics*; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D010819:Physician's Role; D011203:Poverty; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations