Wed 9 Jun 2010 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
A much-anticipated review into provision of HIV services in New Zealand, due to released within the next two weeks, has been broadened in scope to include recommendations from its author. Dr David Miller, a NZ-trained clinical psychologist with experience of HIV, AIDS and sexual health programmes, was contracted by the Ministry of Health earlier this year to look into the funding and provision of prevention programmes and support services for people living with HIV. The Ministry initially said the aim of the HIV Services Review is solely "to inform future decisions in regards to future investment in this area to ensure that funding contributes towards improving service coverage for people who are HIV-positive and that those services are effective and cost-efficient." Asked in April if the review would include recommendations the Ministry gave an emphatic 'no.' However, in a statement to GayNZ.com today a Ministry spokesperson says that whilst the review's original terms of reference did not require recommendations, "Dr Miller has offered to do so as a result of his findings." The MOH says it received a draft of the report, initially slated to be released in late-April, whilst Miller was overseas. He has recently returned to New Zealand and is now finalising it, including "recommendations that will not be altered by the Ministry." Currently the Ministry is formatting the report for publication and considering its response, says the spokesperson. "It is now likely to be completed for release by mid-June 2010." A number of organisations which were consulted by Miller, including the NZ AIDS Foundation and Body Positive, will receive copies of the report ahead of its public release. The NZAF and BP are the main service providers to gay and bi men, who make up the vast majority of New Zealanders contracting and living with the virus, and both have said they welcome the review. You can discuss this New Zealand glbt community news story in our GayNZ.com Forum
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 9th June 2010 - 11:13pm