Primary Healthcare Awards cancelled due to Omicron wave

“There will be a time to celebrate. But not quite now”

The New Zealand Primary Healthcare | He Tohu Mauri Ora awards 2023 have been cancelled due to the second wave of Omicron.

The awards, co-hosted by The Health Media and The Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand, were to re-open for entries in September but as the second wave of Omicron surges, organisers have decided to cancel 2023 awards.

The Health Media co-owner Barbara Fountain says in a media release at this stage of the pandemic, people working in primary care should not have to be thinking about award entries.

“People are exhausted – we do not want to add to the burden they already carry,” says Ms Fountain.

The 2022 awards were postponed in January because of COVID-19.

“Last year’s gala night celebration of the 2021 awards was one of the most joyous occasions for the sector in recent years,” the media release says.

“The awards night on 15 May struck a window in the pandemic – it followed a COVID-free summer and preceded the Delta outbreak. And, although everyone knew more was coming, that window provided a space to celebrate how primary had risen to the challenge of the pandemic; to celebrate excellence and innovation in the sector.”

“Health minister Andrew Little and associate minister Peeni Henare were among the dignitaries there on the night to pay tribute to the finalists and winners.”

But much has changed since then.

Ms Fountain says she is grateful to the sponsors of the awards, “the awards were impossible without such support,” and also to the sector at large.

“To pharmacists, GPs, nurses, NPs, midwives, managers, Māori providers, Pacific providers and suppliers – a big thank you, especially to those who put in entries for the 2022 awards, which we planned to hold over for next year.

“We are sorry the event will not go ahead. There will be a time to celebrate. But not quite now.”