Māori Indigenous Health Framework in action: addressing ethnic disparities in healthcare

There has been a steady increase in cultural competency training in medical education programmes worldwide. To provide high-quality culturally competent care and reduce health disparities between Māori and non-Māori in New Zealand, several health models have been devised. The Indigenous Health Framework (IHF), currently taught at the University of Otago, Christchurch undergraduate medical programme, is a tool developed to assist health professionals to broaden their range of clinical assessment and communicate effectively with Māori patients and whānau, thereby improving health outcomes and reducing disparities. The authors of this article present a Māori health case study written from the observations of a trainee intern (first author) using components from the IHF to address health disparities between Māori and non-Māori.