Disability data gaps leave health inequities hidden, new report finds
A significant gap in New Zealand’s health data is making widespread inequities for disabled people invisible, according to a new report released Friday June 5 by the Health Quality and Safety Commission Te Tāhū Hauora (the Commission). According to the 2023 Household Disability Survey, disabled people make up around one in six New Zealanders.
A Window on Disability report finds that disability is largely invisible in national health data, meaning the health system has limited ability to identify, measure or address the health needs and inequities experienced by more than 850,000 disabled New Zealanders.
A Window on Disability was developed in a partnership between the Health Quality & Safety Commission, researchers from the Donald Beasley Institute, and data analytics group Nicholson Consulting. Project Lead, Brigit Mirfin-Veitch leads the DBI, and along with programme nominated investigator, Dr Robbie Frances Watene, contributed to this report.
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The reports:
Disabled People’s | Tāngata Whaikaha Experiences of Health Services Report on complaints to HDC
