Equity in Telehealth Initiative for Disadvantaged Communities in New Zealand

Delivering Equity in telehealth in primary care (Equity in telehealth) is an initiative to expand the reach of telehealth into the hands of the most disadvantaged consumers in New Zealand. Telehealth is the use of information and communication technologies to deliver health care when the person and the health care provider are not in the same location.

The target consumer group is defined as: Maori, Pacific peoples, rural, and people using �Very Low-Cost Access� general practices. TAS as a commissioning agent seeks to appoint a lead provider (who may partner with other providers) where the lead provider will establish strategies and plans to deliver services to close the digital divide for consumers.

The services provided will enable the currently disadvantaged consumers to engage with general practice telehealth services in the consumers local community. The focus of this work is to address and remove barriers - both practical and engagement-based - at the consumer end.