There is a lack of hospital services in New Zealand for people with food allergies, according to a report published in the
NZ Medical Journal.
Dr Rohan Ameratunga, an allergy specialist at Auckland Hospital, said services for both children and adults were very limited, especially outside Auckland.
He said between 6-8 per cent of New Zealand children and 2-4 per cent of adults had some sort of significant food allergy.
Another major issue in New Zealand was that Epi-Pens (adrenalin auto-injectors) were not publically funded, which made it difficult for lower-income families to afford them, he said.
In a media release, Christchurch paediatrician
Dr Rodney Ford said he agreed with the NZ Medical Journal report however as well as a lack of resources, there were also educational and attitudinal issues that were hampering the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of food allergies.
"Food allergy testing is a simple, painless and effective means of diagnosis that should be foremost in a medical practitioner's mind when treating children," he said.
Epi-Pens Available on PBS
