Training and workforce development programmes to improve primary and community health workforce responsiveness to transgender patients

Details

Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand intends to seek proposals from providers to deliver the following two service components. The aim is to improve health outcomes and overall wellbeing of transgender and non-binary people by improving access to, and the quality of, primary health care services, including gender-affirming care.
1. Community driven models for gender-affirming services in primary care (details in a separate FPO 26800113).
2. Training and workforce development programmes to improve health workforce capacity to deliver culturally and clinically safe health services to transgender and non-binary patients, including gender-affirming care. Training and workforce development programmes will be developed for the primary and community care workforce, and providers will ensure that partnership between community organisations and medical colleges drives promotion of clinically safe practices that reflect the needs of consumers. This may include developing and endorsing learning modules with attached Continued Medical Education (CME) credits.
The intention is to release two separate request for proposals (RFPs) for the two service components above. Respondents may respond to one or both RFPs. For both RFPs potential respondents will need to have the ability, or partner with others who have the ability, to ensure potential services support equitable health outcomes for transgender and non-binary people.
Background
Across multiple determinants of health, transgender and non-binary people experience poorer health outcomes than the general population. Transgender and non-binary identities intersect with every minority population group, including Māori, Pacific, and tāngata whaikaha | disabled peoples, further compounding health inequities.
On 1 July 2022, Budget 2022 allocated $2.182 million over four years to a project with the aim to improve access to primary care for transgender and non-binary people.
The future procurement opportunities outlined above relate to the following workstreams that have been developed from this Budget allocation:
1. funding up to eight primary and community health providers to deliver gender-affirming services over four years
2. developing training and workforce development programmes to improve workforce responsiveness to transgender patients.
Indicative timeframes
The RFPs are expected to be released in February/March 2023. Timeframes and procurement approach are subject to change.