Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

Labour will implement the recommendations of the National Advisory Committee on
Health and Disability research document, „To Have an Ordinary Life”
Labour will ensure that health services accommodate the needs of deaf and blind
people.
Labour will review the criteria for disability support with a view to ensuring that those
on the Autistic Spectrum are supported through disability support services funding.
Labour will continue to reduce the disparities in funding support services between
ACC and non ACC disabled people.
Labour will work towards providing free annual health checks for people with an
intellectual disability.
Labour will review the funding mechanisms for disability services to achieve that
there is adequate provision of carer support and respite care, including investigating
changes to the funding of close relatives as respite carers.
Labour will transfer the funding of vocational services from Vote Health to Vote Social
Development.
PHARMAC and access to medicines
Labour believes that the PHARMAC model has delivered to New Zealanders low cost
medicines and have saved the country hundreds of millions of dollars overall through its
negotiations with drug companies. While individual decisions of PHARMAC may cause
concerns to groups of people, the overall model must be protected.
Labour will protect and enhance PHARMAC‟s role, including through making
protection of PHARMAC a bottom line that will not be traded away in trade
negotiations.
Labour will not intervene in PHARMAC‟s decisions but will review the criteria for
funding highly specialised medicines to ensure that those with rare diseases are
treaty equitably and fairly in decisions about the availability of drugs.
Labour will continue to ensure that access to HIV retroviral drugs keeps pace with
international developments.
Alcohol and drugs
Availability, marketing and low cost of alcohol
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