64932 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

64932 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter April to June 2024 toward the outcome ‘Amplify and elevate the leadership and role of Māori and Pacific communities, experts and health professionals’ under ‘Focus area three: Kōkiri Ngātahi System readiness and change’ within the Rheumatic Fever Roadmap?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that during the April to June 2024 quarter, the following progress was made across Focus Area three of the Rheumatic Fever Roadmap: • The national rheumatic heart disease echo trial continued. • The 2023 first episode rheumatic fever hospitalisation data was published. • Research into the feasibility of a Group A Streptococcus (GAS) vaccine continued to be progressed. • Health New Zealand continued to work with the Public Health Agency to define further data enhancements and surveillance for rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. • HNZ continued to work with MoH on increasing integration and coordination of the rheumatic fever prevention and management system. • Māori and Pacific communities, and experts and professionals, continued to work on updating of the National Clinical Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease Guidelines; the shaping of the National Rheumatic Fever Sector Symposium, and raising awareness of rheumatic fever initiatives.