Sexual Health physician Massimo Giola Photo: Supplied
Sexual health specialists are warning the spread of STIs will likely worsen in the next few years as the workforce dwindles.
There are currently fifteen specialists in New Zealand, based in six cities, and half of them are due to retire in the next five to ten years.
Recent data tracking Syphilis show no detected cases in some of the regions which don't have specialists. Experts say that's a direct example of the need of specialists to lead each region.
Two years ago the group of experts suggested a restructure to Health New Zealand which would've meant every region was overseen by a sexual health physician, but instead a single national clinical advisor has been appointed.
Kathryn speaks to Massimo Giola of the New Zealand Sexual Health Society, and Michael Meyer, a neonatologist who deals with congenital syphilis at Middlemore Hospital.
