Publications by authors named "Maite Irurzun Lopez"
Aim: To ascertain the reasons for and impacts of closed books in general practices in Aotearoa New Zealand and report recommendations for mitigation.
Method: A mixed-methods approach was used. A first round of interviews with experts in the primary care sector was conducted, followed by a survey across general practices and, finally, a second round of interviews.
An area-based analysis of general practice fees in Aotearoa New Zealand.
J Prim Health Care
June 2024
Article Synopsis
- * Results indicate that economically deprived areas with more males tend to have lower fees, while areas with more retirement-aged and European residents face higher fees, highlighting geographic disparities.
- * The research suggests that current subsidy schemes, like Very-Low-Cost-Access, are effective in targeting high-needs groups but still leave many with unmet health care needs due to ongoing high costs; policymakers should adjust these schemes to improve equity.
Introduction Around 5% of the people in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) are not enrolled with a general practice. Aim This study aimed to explore the utilisation of general practice by enrolment status and subsequent use of an emergency department. Methods We compared a cohort of respondents from New Zealand Health Surveys (2013/14-2018/19) on self-reported general practice utilisation and their substitutes, according to their enrolment status (enrolled and not enrolled).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: A NZ$5 co-payment prescription charge was removed in July 2023 but may be reinstated. Here we quantify the health impact and cost of not being able to afford this charge.
Methods: We linked New Zealand Health Surveys (2013/2014-2018/2019) to hospitalisation data using data available in Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI).
This article describes findings from the evaluation of Healthy Families NZ (HFNZ), an equity-driven, place-based community health initiative. Implemented in nine diverse communities across New Zealand, HFNZ aims to strengthen the systems that can improve health and well-being. Findings highlight local needs and priorities including the social mechanisms important for reorienting health and policy systems towards place-based communities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: In Aotearoa New Zealand, primary care is organised by enrolling patients with a primary care provider. However, the benefits of this arrangement are frustrated when providers "close their books" due to insufficient capacity for new patients. We investigated the extent, evolution and impact of this situation on health access and equity in access to primary healthcare.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- * The study analyzed enrollment data from 2016 to 2023, noting that Māori, young people, and the most deprived groups had lower enrollment rates, while young people's enrollment increased during the pandemic, contrasting with declining rates for Māori and Pacific peoples.
- * The findings indicate significant disparities in enrollment across different sociodemographic groups, suggesting that changes in enrollment patterns due to the COVID-19 pandemic could adversely impact overall population health.
Background: In Aotearoa New Zealand, co-payments to see a general practitioner (GP, family doctor) or collect a prescription are payable by virtually all adults.
Objective: To examine the extent to which these user co-payments are a barrier to accessing health care, focussing on inequities for indigenous Māori.
Methods: Pooled data from sequential waves (years) of the New Zealand Health Survey, 2011/12 to 2018/19 were analysed.
Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant health, social and economic impacts around the world. We established a national, population-based longitudinal cohort to investigate the immediate and longer-term physical, psychological and economic impacts of COVID-19 on affected people in Aotearoa New Zealand (Aotearoa), with the resulting evidence to assist in designing appropriate health and well-being services for people with COVID-19.
Participants: All people residing in Aotearoa aged 16 years or over, who had a confirmed or probable diagnosis of COVID-19 prior to December 2021, were invited to participate.
Introduction In Aotearoa New Zealand, patients can enrol in a general practice for their primary health care. When a general practice no longer enrols new patients this is known as 'closed books'. We examined which District Health Board (DHB) districts were most affected and what characteristics of general practices and DHB districts were associated with closed books.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: In Aotearoa New Zealand, being enrolled with a Primary Health Care (PHC) provider furnishes opportunities for lower cost access to PHC, preventative care and secondary health care services, and provides better continuity of care. We examine the characteristics of populations not enrolled, and whether enrolment is associated with amenable mortality.
Method: We retrieved records of all deaths registered 2008 to 2017 in Aotearoa New Zealand, which included demographic and primary cause of death information.
Background: Primary Health Care (PHC) is the entry point to accessing health services in many countries. Having a high proportion of the population enrolled with a PHC provider is key to ensuring PHC fulfils this role and that it contributes to achieving better equity in health. We aimed to understand the extent to which people in Aotearoa New Zealand are enrolling with Primary Health Organizations (PHOs), how enrolment rates have evolved over time, and variations across District Health Boards (DHBs) and socio-demographic groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrimary Health Care in Aotearoa New Zealand is mainly funded through capitation-based funding to general practices, supplemented by a user co-payment. Funding is designed in part to keep the costs of care low for key groups in the population who have higher health needs. We investigated changes in the socio-demographic determinants of no-cost and low-cost access to Primary Health Care using data from sequential waves of the New Zealand Health Survey (1996/97-2016/17).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study examines the costs of strengthening bacterial meningitis surveillance in Chad and Niger following the introduction of a serogroup A meningococcal conjugate vaccine.
- Data was collected through interviews and financial reviews, revealing that Niger had a more advanced surveillance system compared to Chad, reflected in the higher costs of US$ 1,951,562 and US$ 338,056, respectively.
- Key expenses were identified as laboratory investigations and personnel resources, with Niger needing significantly more funds for upgrades to reach desired standards than Chad.