Investing in better health

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The removal of the $5 prescription charge might not sound like a lot but the implications are huge for those who cannot afford $5.

This new policy in the 2023 Budget is relatively inexpensive and will pay for itself many times over.

Early intervention means less pressure and costs on hospitals. Conditions like angina or diabetes, which could grow more serious, can be fixed or controlled early.

Access to medicine speeds recovery times and people can avoid repeat illnesses.

Employers should be happy as their workers are likely to have fewer sick days.

Teachers should be happy as young people will be able to attend school more often.

Many get down if they have serious illnesses and are poor. I hope that improves if they can feel better and not need to worry about yet another cost.

At the same time, our local chemists might not be pushed out of business by the big international companies offering free prescriptions now.

Removing prescription charges is clever policy and many will be provided a brighter future because of it.

Mary-Ann de Kort