Strong consumer voices heard in response to Bula Sautu Pacific health report
A Pacific consumer group has responded to a major Pacific health report released this week and provided valuable insights into what’s working well in the health system for Pacific peoples and where improvements could be made to ensure the system is working at its best.
The Health Quality & Safety Commission (the Commission) published Bula Sautu – A window on quality 2021: Pacific health in the year of COVID-19 on Monday 5 July 2021, the latest in its series of ‘window’ publications.
Bula Sautu considers the health of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand and provides a snapshot view of how the health system is working (or not working) for them. It highlights some of the worst health care inequities affecting Pacific peoples and the relative lack of discussion of these inequities in the ongoing health system reforms. It also profiles providers, communities and individuals responding creatively and effectively within the constraints imposed upon them. This was particularly evident during the COVID-19 response, when innovation flourished.
In order to understand and help to address the inequities, the Commission’s Partners in Care team convened a Pacific consumer group at a day-long workshop to gather insights and share the experiences of people who are exposed directly to those inequities.
The group has provide a strong Pacific consumer voice to accompany Bula Sautu and a report containing a thematic analysis of their feedback has been published: Improving health outcomes: Pacific consumer group’s talanoa on Bula Sautu.
The report identified four key themes, which all focus on progressing Bula Sautu into action. These included looking to new beginnings, acknowledging the diversity among Pacific communities and consideration of the Pacific health system and Pacific leadership within it. The themes captured members’ aspirations for change and system thinking, while strongly challenging the status quo using a Pacific consumer ‘lens’.
The group endorsed the findings of Bula Sautu, and its report suggests pathways for implementation. Group members agreed there is a critical need for a national Pacific voice to lead and accompany Bula Sautu on the next phase of its journey and explore issues further.
The Commission would like to acknowledge the Pacific consumer group’s talanoa on Bula Sautu. The group of nine members have varied backgrounds and experiences, with connections to over seven Pacific nations.