The Public Health Advisory Committee (PHAC), established under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, provides independent advice to the Minister of Health on major public health challenges.
Last week, the committee published the first major report on determinants of health and equity in Aotearoa in more than 25 years.
‘Determining our Future’ examines trends since 2000 in the distribution of the determinants of health (such as income, housing, cultural identity and social cohesion) and in health outcomes, and why these are unevenly distributed in our society.
It looks forward to 2040, and assesses challenges to health equity and wellbeing, including the impacts of commercial interests and of the ‘megatrends’ – the climate crisis, AI and digital technology.
It is stark reading e te whānau, and backs up what we already know – that Māori continue to bear the brunt of inequity. You can read the report here.