Editor’s Welcome

Abstract

Tēnā koutou katoa and welcome to Issue 36 of Te Hautaka o ngā Akongā Rongoā, the New Zealand Medical Student Journal (NZMSJ). The theme of this issue is “Advocacy in Health,” which is crucial in the betterment of the healthcare system for both patients and health professionals. It is our privilege to share with our readers a wide range of insightful and high-quality articles by health care professional students, clinicians, and academics from Aotearoa. Advocacy plays a core role in the realm of healthcare, serving as a powerful catalyst for positive change and improved outcomes on both individual and systemic levels. Healthcare advocacy for the individual involves standing up for the rights, needs, and well-being of patients, ensuring that their voices are heard and their concerns addressed. On a broader scale, advocacy in healthcare contributes to the refinement of healthcare policies, regulations, and services. As providers working on the front lines, health professionals often better identify areas of necessary improvement than policy-makers. Advocacy campaigns and initiatives can shed light on systemic issues, drive policy changes, and influence healthcare regulations that ultimately shape the healthcare experience for everyone. We believe that by holding stakeholders accountable and pushing for transparency, advocacy serves as a counterbalance to potential shortcomings in the healthcare sector. Overall, the significance of ad- vocacy in healthcare extends beyond individual cases, contributing to a more inclusive, patient-centric, and effective healthcare system for entire communities and populations.