Equality

As a woman who identifies as Irish, I don't qualify for a free cervical smear. 
Maori, Pasifika and Asian women get them done for free. 
Can this please be rectified so we are all treated equally. 
Regards,

Sue Powell

Why the contribution is important

That we as a nation are all treated equally.

by Suepowell007 on January 17, 2023 at 02:32PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 2.5
Based on: 8 votes

Comments

  • Posted by ash March 10, 2023 at 20:25

    Sue,

    Your comment reveals a blatant disregard to the very real determinants of health and how they impact different demographics. You state that the importance of your contribution is to ensure that "we as a nation are treated equally" but what you have failed to understand is the difference between 'equality' and 'equity'.
    The reason Māori, Pasifika and Asian women have access to funded cervical smear tests is because each of these groups are overrepresented in the pool of cervical cancer cases in Aotearoa. They are also several times more likely to die from cervical cancer than their European counterparts.

    I recommend the following resources if you are interested in learning more...
    Cervical smears - Achieving Equity:
    https://bpac.org.nz/[…]/bpj23_csmears_pages46-55.pdf
    Achieving Equity in Health Outcomes:
    https://www.health.govt.nz/[…]aper-highlights-nov18_1.pdf

  • Posted by johnx March 17, 2023 at 16:32

    Totally agree that the same health care should be available to all
    Equality endures that all regardless of who their parents are get the same care

  • Posted by paulanz March 22, 2023 at 04:35

    Could it be ash that Europeans as the data shows proactively seek the care early by having there smears ECT thus lowering the chances of issues and getting earlier intervention

    So why should they be financially disadvantaged because of that

  • Posted by nursealice April 21, 2023 at 18:51

    The screening programmes work on the principle of equity, not equality. This is to ensure those with the highest risk factors are given priority to save their lives, and to save the state the burden of paying for more advanced care that could have been prevented by earlier intervention. In fact the NHS now works on the same principle of equity for their own screening programmes, after seeing how successful NZ has been in lowering Cervical Cancer rates and picking up Breast Cancer early.

  • Posted by Kiwi8 April 21, 2023 at 19:51

    One word - Equity.
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