Please login to view this media
- Talk
- 09/06/2022
- CANADA
International Voices Roundtable: Challenges, Commonalities and Relevance to Global Orthopaedics: Local Initiatives and Global Collaborations - New Zealand Perspective
Description
In this presentation, Dr. John McKie welcomes attendees at the Conference of Orthopaedic Associations (COA). He shares fond memories of hosting Kinshore Mulpuri and reflects on the composition of the audience, humorously contemplating their faith backgrounds. Dr. McKie emphasizes the urgent healthcare needs in New Zealand, particularly affecting the Indigenous Māori and Pasifika populations, and discusses the equal access to healthcare and outcomes based on recent developments. He outlines the challenges exacerbated by COVID-19, which has increased healthcare backlogs but also presents opportunities for reform and nationalized health service efforts.
He contextualizes New Zealand's size and demographic, emphasizing its small population of approximately 5 million. McKie then discusses the geographical and economic implications of being a Pacific Island nation, mentioning efforts made by healthcare professionals, like the late Andy McDairmid, to volunteer in the Pacific Islands for skill development and direct assistance. He presents the formation of the Orthopacific Charitable Trust, aimed at providing aid and education to local healthcare providers.
The presentation highlights past trips hampered by COVID, but plans to resume visits to the Cook Islands and Fiji soon. McKie notes cooperative efforts with Australian surgeons to develop a training curriculum for Pacific Island surgeons through ongoing webinars and exchange programs. This initiative aims to empower local healthcare professionals and ensure sustainable healthcare development in the region. Ultimately, the session encapsulates the collaborative spirit of the Pacific healthcare community and the ongoing commitment to improving health outcomes.