Senior doctors ask Government for independent health assessment of trade deal

Senior doctors have strong concerns about the likely impact of the so-called Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on New Zealanders’ health and health services.

“Our analysis of the CPTPP, and a discussion with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Ministry of Health, indicate the need for an independent health impact assessment (HIA) remains as critical as ever,” says Angela Belich, Acting Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).

“The ASMS is among a raft of medical organisations that have been calling for such an assessment before our Government signs up to this agreement.

“Given the widely acknowledged risks to health of climate change, an assessment of the potential effects of the CPTPP on climate change must be a crucial part of an independent HIA.

“This would be in line with the Labour Party’s pre-election manifesto of assessing and planning for the risks of changing climate on health. It is also consistent in principle with the confidence and supply agreement with the Greens for “all new legislation [to undergo] a climate impact assessment analysis”.

“The recent changes to the proposed agreement have not addressed doctors’ concerns about the potential negative impact this trade agreement could have on New Zealanders’ health,” says Ms Belich