The Department of Health says people cannot be denied health care because of their immunization status, and that there is no need to do routine tests on unvaccinated patients before seeing a doctor. doctor.

“Access to health care is a fundamental right,” the ministry said last Friday in response to the concerns of clinicians and providers about the treatment and testing of people not vaccinated against Covid-19.

“A person seeking health care cannot be denied care because of their beliefs. In this case, a person who thinks a vaccine is harmful cannot be denied care for their belief. “

He also said a practitioner should not allow their opinion of a patient who refuses to be vaccinated to influence the care they provide for that person.

Routine testing on asymptomatic patients would identify some infections and reduce transmission, the ministry said, but the feasibility, cost and effectiveness of this have not been determined and could divert scarce testing resources from urgent work. .

There are ways to reduce the risk of transmission to any asymptomatic individual and these should be used before introducing others.

The Royal College of General Practitioners of New Zealand and others interviewed by the Herald agree with the ministry’s position.

“Unvaccinated patients must be seen and treated, and there is no legal or other requirement for a covid pre-consultation test,” said College medical director Dr. Bryan Betty.

But there is a difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in terms of the ability to catch and potentially spread Covid, he said.

“There have been concerns about this. How do you keep elderly patients, for example, who have a co-morbid condition or who are immunocompromised separated from what might be an increased risk – that is, a patient who is not vaccinated and may be asymptomatic with Covid? “

He said there could be a process within surgeries and practices to maintain a degree of separation between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.

The ministry said there was no need to set up a high-risk alternative route just for unvaccinated patients in general practices and medical centers.

Putting unvaccinated people on an alternative route is “highly likely to have a negative impact on access to care, which must be balanced by a demonstrable benefit,” he said.

Children make up a large portion of the unvaccinated population, so clinicians need to think about how an alternative pathway affects their care, the ministry said.

Dr Kath Rollo, a general practitioner at Broadway Health Kaitaia in Northland, says she has heard discussions in the medical community about denial of care and acknowledged the compassion fatigue that healthcare workers in the United States and in Europe feel towards unvaccinated patients.

But she thinks most of the doctors here will do the right thing. “Refusing to see unvaccinated patients will disproportionately affect Maori and other vulnerable groups who for whatever reason decide not to be vaccinated,” she said.

“We have a duty of care to all of our patients, just as we have a duty of care to be fully immunized.”

University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Associate Dean Dr Collin Tukuitonga said the guidelines are useful for the management of unvaccinated patients who pose a risk to healthcare workers , and the aim is to ensure that treatment is delivered in a safe manner.

The college has issued guidelines for general practitioners to manage risks around unvaccinated patients, including masks, personal protective equipment, triage at the front door, teleconsultations and separation of patients if necessary.