Indigenous Health Workforce Development: challenges and successes of the Vision 20:20 programme

摘要

In New Zealand, Maori make up 15% of the population but only 2.6% of doctors, less than 1.5% of pharmacists, 2.1% of dentists and 7% of nurses.1-2 Similarly, Pacific people (a heterogeneous composite of Pacific ethnic groups living in New Zealand) make up nearly 7% of the population, but only 1.6% of doctors, 0.4% of pharmacists, 0.6% of dentists and 2.8% of nurses.2,3Under-representation of indigenous and ethnic minority groups within health professions impacts on processes and outcomes of health care,4 Limits the diversity of health-care delivery5 and fails to provide for future health needs of societies at both a general population and an ethnic community level.6