New Zealand's $164M health blitz: 24/7 urgent care aims to reach 98 percent of Kiwis within an hour
New Zealanders, especially those in rural and remote areas, face daunting challenges in accessing timely medical care when illness strikes them.
Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey said, 'Access to healthcare is one of the biggest concerns for people living in rural and remote communities.
Recognizing this critical gap,
Budget
2025 introduces a substantial investment to bring urgent healthcare services closer to home for communities nationwide.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Complete protection with iPru All-in-one Term Plan
ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan
Get Quote
Undo
New Zealand's Budget 2025 allocates $164 million over four years to expand urgent and after-hours care services nationwide. This investment aims to ensure that 98 percent of New Zealanders can access in-person urgent care within an hour's drive from their homes, addressing disparities in healthcare availability, especially in rural and remote areas.
The Counties Manukau clinic will be the first cab off the rank, with a service likely to open before the end of the year.
Live Events
Key Developments:
New
24/7 Urgent Care Clinics
: Facilities are planned for Counties Manukau and Dunedin by late 2025, Tauranga by mid-2026, and Whangārei and Palmerston North by mid-2027.
Daytime Urgent Care Services:
Lower Hutt is set to receive enhanced services by late 2025, with Invercargill and Timaru following in 2026.
Rural and Remote Access
: Improved services, including better access to diagnostics, urgent medicines, and 24/7 on-call clinical support, are planned for areas such as Alexandra, Ashburton, Balclutha, Golden Bay, Gore, and Ōamaru.
Health Minister Simeon Brown emphasized the importance of this initiative: "Strengthening urgent and after-hours care is an important part of our Government's plan to ensure all New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare."
Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey highlighted the benefits for rural communities, stating that the investment will bring healthcare closer to home for more people, ensuring that 98 percent of
Kiwis
will be able to access these services within an hour's drive of their home.
This funding is in addition to the previous Budget's cost-pressure allocations, which included a cumulative $16.68 billion over the next three Budgets to fund cost pressures in the health sector.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Want lower blood pressure and stronger legs? Japanese walking might be the simple daily fix you need
Could a simple change in your walking style be the key to improved health? A growing number of physicians and researchers believe so. " Japanese walking ," a method developed nearly two decades ago, is now being praised for its numerous benefits, including lower blood pressure , increased muscle strength , and better mental health. What is Japanese Walking? " Interval walking training ," which is currently referred to as "Japanese walking, a straightforward regimen that alternates between slow and fast walking, was created by Japanese researchers almost 20 years ago. How can you practice Japanese Walking? You can practice Japanese walking in this way: by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Walk quickly for three minutes (roughly 70% of your maximum aerobic capacity) followed by walking slowly for three minutes (roughly 40% of your maximum aerobic capacity). For a total of 30 minutes each session, repeat the cycle, as per a report by Very Well Health. Why are three minutes required for the intervals? Researchers used three-minute intervals in the original study because older participants started to feel fatigued after that. Live Events If you couldn't initially handle three-minute intervals, you would probably still see some improvement with shorter ones. Starting with three minutes of regular walking, followed by one minute of brisk walking, and extending the duration of the brisk walking interval as your fitness increases would be entirely reasonable. Who benefits the most from this Japanese walking method? The most suitable individuals for Japanese walking are those who feel bored or stuck with your daily walking schedule. People who are striving to reverse insulin resistance, early metabolic syndrome, or have mild joint issues can benefit from this. This low-impact exercise is ideal for older adults or beginners because it is simple to start, requires no equipment, and may provide long-term cardiovascular and metabolic benefits. Children's National Hospital physical therapist Kevin McGuinness said, "This is a useful strategy for people who can't tolerate activities like running or hiking due to injury, weakness, or balance issues." ALSO READ: Jon Stewart's savage necklace joke goes viral as Karoline Leavitt reportedly ditches the bling in response What are the health benefits of Japanese walking? Anahita Kalianivala, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Reno, Nevada, believes that strategies such as interval walking can be surprisingly effective in re-training the nervous system to tolerate exercise. She explains that a common technique for managing chronic pain in cognitive behavioral therapy is time-based activity pacing, which helps the body and brain associate activity with safety and the ability to continue rather than danger and the need to crash, as quoted in a report. The exercise has been demonstrated to increase VO2max, decrease blood pressure, and aid in blood sugar regulation. Interval walking was found to increase peak aerobic capacity, thigh muscle strength, and blood pressure. Is Japanese walking easier and better than regular walking? • Interval walking is an effective way to improve long-term health, particularly for middle-aged and older adults. • It consists of alternating short periods of brisk walking and slower-paced recovery, which dynamically engages the cardiovascular system. • Interval walking is simple to learn, requires no special equipment or gym access, and causes metabolic changes. Can shorter intervals still help? If you would like to try Japanese walking, you could ease yourself into the routine by beginning with shorter bursts of brisk walking than the three-minute intervals used in it. FAQs Is Japanese walking better than regular walking? Yes, alternating speeds gives your heart and muscles a better workout while reducing strain. Can I practice Japanese walking if I am out of shape? You can begin with shorter intervals and progress gradually.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Vitamin D supplements and their link with ageing: 5 unbelievable facts
Vitamin D, crucial for bone health and immunity, may also combat aging. A study revealed that vitamin D supplements help maintain telomere length, potentially delaying biological aging by nearly three years. Furthermore, it supports cardiovascular health, improves mood, and aids in weight management, highlighting its multifaceted benefits for overall well-being. Soak in the sunshine every morning. That daily dose of vitamin D can do wonders for your health. Vitamin D, also known as the 'sunshine vitamin', plays a critical role in bone health, immune function, and overall well-being. Recent research also suggests that it may help reverse age! A recent study led by researchers at Mass General Brigham and the Medical College of Georgia found that vitamin D supplements show signs of protection against biological aging. The findings are published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition . What is vitamin D Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient essential for maintaining healthy bones, supporting immune function, and promoting overall well-being. It is produced by the skin when exposed to sunlight and can also be consumed from animal-based foods such as salmon, cod, and egg yolks. Vitamin D and ageing The recent controlled trial revealed that vitamin D supplementation helps to maintain telomeres, the protective caps found at the ends of chromosomes that shorten during aging and are linked to the development of certain diseases. 'VITAL is the first large-scale and long-term randomized trial to show that vitamin D supplements protect telomeres and preserve telomere length. This is of particular interest because VITAL had also shown benefits of vitamin D in reducing inflammation and lowering risks of selected chronic diseases of aging, such as advanced cancer and autoimmune disease,' co-author JoAnn Manson, MD, principal investigator and chief of the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said in a release. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Easy ways to increase your Vitamin D intake The study followed over 1,000 participants for four years and found that those who took vitamin D3 supplementation daily had slowed the process of telomere shortening. This means it delayed biological aging by nearly three years. The shortening of the telomeres is also linked to increased risk of many age-related diseases. 'Targeted vitamin D supplementation may be a promising strategy to counter a biological aging process, although further research is warranted,' the researchers noted. Vitamin D and immunity Studies have also found that a low level of vitamin D increased the risk of infections and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease. A 2020 study found that vitamin D can improve immune health and decrease the susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D and cardiovascular health Vitamin D plays a crucial role in fighting disease. Low levels of vitamin D are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. A systemic analysis and meta-analysis conducted by scientists from institutions across China and the United States in 2024 found that targeted vitamin D supplementation can improve cardiometabolic health. The analysis found that vitamin D supplementation was associated with favorable effects on various cardiometabolic risk factors, including reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1C, and fasting blood insulin. Vitamin D and mood Studies have shown that vitamin D plays a key role in decreasing the risk of depression and also regulating mood. A 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis of 7,534 people found that vitamin D supplementation can reduce negative emotions. Researchers noted that patients with major depressive disorder and individuals with vitamin D deficiency are most likely to benefit from supplementation. Vitamin D and weight loss Vitamin D has also shown promise in weight management. A 2018 study looked at the effects of vitamin D supplementation on weight Loss, glycemic indices, and lipid profile in obese and overweight Women. After 6 weeks of supplementation in obese and overweight women aged 20–40 years, the researchers found a reduction in the mean of BMI, weight, and waist circumference. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
IIT Mandi, Art of Living to advance research in consciousness, mental health
The Mind, Brain, and Consciousness Conference (MBCC 2025) opened to an intellectually vibrant start at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi on June 4. Organised by the Indian Knowledge System and Mental Health Applications (IKSMHA) Center, the four-day global event witnessed a confluence of neuroscientists, spiritual leaders, psychologists, philosophers, and AI researchers, marking a bold step in interdisciplinary research on consciousness and mental ON CONSCIOUSNESS AND INDIAN WISDOMMBCC 2025 (June 4–7) positions itself at the frontier of neuroscience, consciousness studies, mental well-being, and Indian philosophical traditions. The conference aims to foster dialogue across disciplines through research presentations, keynote addresses, workshops, and cultural programs, promoting the integration of Indian knowledge systems with cutting-edge scientific a significant move, IIT Mandi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Art of Living Foundation, strengthening its commitment to collaborative research in consciousness and mental AND SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT LEADERS UNITE Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation, delivered a virtual keynote to open the event. Emphasising the role of spirituality in modern science, he remarked, 'Science now agrees that spirituality plays a vital role in mind and consciousness. Happiness is a concept of consciousness, nurtured through meditation, sattvic food, and pranayama.'advertisementProfessor Laxmidhar Behera, Director of IIT Mandi and General Chair of MBCC, highlighted the centrality of consciousness to both science and self-realisation. 'Without consciousness, the body is nothing. MBCC 2025 opens pathways for practical education, innovation, and interdisciplinary research rooted in Indian knowledge systems,' he Arnav Bhavsar, Chair of the IKSMHA Center, outlined the center's evolving research ecosystem, including the launch of a sleep research lab and collaborations with national institutions such as DRDO and the Ministry of Indologist Acharya Shrivatsa Goswami described the conference as a 'yagya of knowledge,' led by students and illuminated by the light of MBCC 2025 HAS IN STORE?The Mind, Brain, and Consciousness Conference (MBCC 2025) offers a rich academic and cultural programme. The four-day event features over 110 full paper presentations and 60 poster presentations by researchers from diverse fields. Attendees can participate in 12 thematic sessions covering topics such as cognitive biomarkers, neuroimaging, AI and consciousness, Ayurvedic psychiatry, and reincarnation conference also includes 4 keynote addresses and 3 plenary sessions featuring eminent speakers like Professor B N Gangadhar, Professor Gautam Desiraju, Professor Shrinivasa Varakedi, Professor Nirmalya Chakraborty, and HH Bhakti Rasamrita addition, there are 6 invited talks from leading scholars and 2 expert panel discussions focusing on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), cognition, and civilisational event offers hands-on learning experiences through 2 immersive workshops — one on Dharma in Indian Katha Parampara and another on Sattvic Cooking for Mental and Physical Health. Cultural programming includes 3 evenings of music, dance, and storytelling, exploring Indian traditions tied to MBCC 2025 continues until June 7, upcoming sessions will delve into crucial themes such as yoga and mental health, meditation and neurocognitive therapies, AI's intersections with consciousness, and the continuum of consciousness in Indian philosophical thought. This landmark event reaffirms IIT Mandi's growing role in interdisciplinary research, aiming to reshape how science engages with the human mind, consciousness, and holistic the full conference schedule and details, visit:
