NZ's Health System and Persecuted Christians

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Categories: Gospel and Culture

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Good Morning and Welcome to this week’s Gospel and Culture update, by Alan Vink
NZ’s Health System and Persecuted Christians
Tuesday 27th April, 2021

The Future of New Zealand’s Health System

There is no doubt the package, announced by Health Minister Andrew Little last week Wednesday, is bold.
Abolishing all existing District Health Boards (DHBs), creating a single national health service, establishing a Māori Health Authority, curtailing the Ministry of Health, and forming a Public Health Agency: each one of these measures is significant. Taken together, it means no stone in health will be left unturned.

He described the reforms as “a plan to create a truly national public health service, that takes services to where people need them, no matter who they are or where they live”.

Little outlined some of the inequities currently seen in the health system, including young Māori being more likely to die after traumatic injuries compared to others with the same injuries, Māori and Pasifika people being twice as likely to die young from treatable conditions, people with severe mental health issues dying decades earlier on average, and a lack of information collection on the health needs of people with disabilities.

“These facts are in part the consequence of a system that is disjointed, and simply does not see the needs of large parts of the community,” said Little. “Our system is far too complicated for a small nation. We simply do not need 20 sets of decision makers. Nor do we need 20 plans for capital investment, for IT systems, and for our workforce.”

Little also talked up the potential for the new system to better deliver digital services, and “shifting the focus away from hospitals”.

POV. A well-functioning national health system is crucial in a welfare state. Such a system should deliver services that are equitable and timely. And just to be clear it is a systemic problem. Every clinician I have ever met wants to do a great job for every single patient they interact with. I have been dismayed at the inefficiencies and quite frankly waste in our system. It always seemed odd to me if Education and Social Services are managed from a central agency then why not health? Over the years I have met so many clinicians who are frustrated with the system particularly those who work in the nations hospitals. In my opinion the problem fundamentally centres around the 20 DHB’s, each separately elected and largely doing their own thing. Why this has gone on as long as it has is surprising to say the least. Time will tell whether this new proposal will fix our problems. I think this could have a good chance.

The Persecuted Church 2021

Here are the top 50 countries where its most difficult to follow Jesus in 2021 as reported by Open Doors World Watch List (WWL). Of the 50 countries listed, in 12 countries the persecution is extreme and in the remaining 38 it is very high. In 27 countries the source of persecution is Islamic oppression. An example of the use of Islamic militant force can be seen in groups such as Islamic State, Boko Haram and al-Shabaab.

Definition of persecution
There is no international, legal definition of persecution. Situations can be defined as persecution where persons experience the denial of the rights listed in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, the WWL methodology has opted for a theological rather than a sociological definition: Thus persecution is understood to be “any hostility experienced as a result of one’s identification with Christ. This can include hostile attitudes, words and actions toward Christians.” The definition of “Christian” and the “categories of Christianity” is further explained on their website.

What can we do? Quite a bit as it turns out. We can be better informed by downloading a booklet for free. We can pray, we can write letters and we can advocate. More information for all of this can be found here.

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