Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health
The Rural Health Strategy sets the direction for improving the health and wellbeing of rural communities over the next 10 years.
This is the first time that New Zealand will have a Rural Health Strategy. Our vision is for all people living in rural communities to live long and healthy lives, supported by a health system that meets the varied needs of these communities and draws on the strengths and knowledge of rural communities to achieve pae ora – healthy futures for all.
Rural communities’ health needs are often under-served, particularly in relation to accessing health services, especially for remote communities and rural Māori.
This strategy outlines five priorities that set the direction for improving rural health outcomes over the next 10 years.
Improving access to health care through having services available closer to home within rural communities, or being supported to access health care when outside their community, are two priorities for rural health. To improve access and rural health outcomes we need to better value the rural health workforce and support them to meet broader health needs within rural communities.
