   pacific people experience higher levels of unmet primary health care needs – the cost of visits to doctors and prescriptions have been identified as key barriers; infant mortality rates have remained static at about 20% higher than for the rest of the population; and pacific peoples have higher rates of infectious diseases than other New Zealanders making up approximately 32% of hospitalizations for infectious disease.49 65. People with intellectual disabilities continue to experience poor health outcomes across all indices and face significant barriers to accessing appropriate and adequate primary health care services. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at New Zealand’s last review recommended that the government “ensure that its primary health system is adequately equipped to provide care to persons with intellectual disabilities.” 66. The Commission understands that after many years of inaction the government has now committed to taking concrete action to address the enduring disparity in health outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities. 67. The Committee may wish to consider including the following questions in its LOIPR for New Zealand: E. 49  What steps is the government taking to improve health outcomes for Māori and Pacific people?  How is progress measured and monitored?  What steps is the government taking to address each element of the right to health for Māori and Pacific people?  Can the government please update the committee on the concrete steps it is taking to improve the health of people with intellectual disabilities and to ensure that the primary health system provides appropriate care to them? Employment http://www.bpac.org.nz/BPJ/2010/November/docs/BPJ_32_infectious_pages_10-14.pdf 18