Gender Surgery Costs Too High For Many (Of New Zealand Interest)

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

A national support group for transgender people says the $500,000 of public health funding spent on gender realignment surgeries over the past five years is woefully inadequate.

Figures obtained by The Press under the Official Information Act show that just seven male to female operations and three female to male operations have been publicly funded in recent years.

"There is no reason why it should be that way," said Agender New Zealand spokesperson Claudia McKay.

"It's just laughable."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/9598534/Gender-surgery-cost-too-high-for-many


Metta Zenda

[Vicky]

I agree that the funds spent are not enough, but I also have a problem of their cost accounting so the $500K only covered 10 people.  Something sure does not make dollars and sense.

[Anatta]

I agree that the funds spent are not enough, but I also have a problem of their cost accounting so the $500K only covered 10 people.  Something sure does not make dollars and sense.

Kia Ora Vicky,

At the time of my surgery(2005) the cost of colonvaginoplasty (which was the only surgery permitted under government funding) was $30,000 NZ and the F2M surgery was and still is performed overseas and cost $80,000NZ...Back then they were allowing 3 M2Fs and 1 F2M surgeries every two years...($170, 000 NZ every two years or there about)...I must admit I haven't been up with the play on the surgery costs lately, but I'm sure they have gone up...

Metta Zenda

[Vicky]

Thank you for the clarification on that.  That is actually about the U.S. price for that procedure for MtF, but it does show a common, international fault of governments world wide.  I worked for the US State Of California and a single simple ball point pen, which could not be the most simple due to legal specifications cost 5 times what I bought a dozen of the equally serviceable pens for for my home use.    My surgery which was the simpler and less complicated scrotal graft and partial penile inversion technique and was $23K US.  The FtM price you are quoting is close as well for that procedure at the highest end.  Yes, badly underfunded, but still cheap compared to costs of attempted suicides and self harm hospitalizations.