Waikato Times: $10 tip sugars health pill

Maryanne Twentyman writes in the Waikato Times about a clinic’s controversial means of encouraging people to undergo smear tests, vaccinations or B4 School checks: paying them $10.

The tactic, which has the support of the Waikato District Health Board, may be the first of its kind in New Zealand and if successful, the clinic may consider broadening it to include mammograms and diabetes testing.

An excerpt: (read in full here)

“Radius Medical general manager Navin Rajan conceded the concept raised some ethical concerns but said the decision was simply on how best to meet significant targets such as vaccination rates.

“”Ethically speaking it is a very grey area. We are not trying to buy patients, this is not bribery, this is getting children vaccinated, examined and women through the door for smear tests that could potentially save their lives,” Dr Rajan said.”