Ministry of Health in New Zealand and mobile network operators have collaborated to offer free access to essential health information and digital health services.

The Sponsored Data partnership between the Ministry of Health and mobile network operators Spark, Vodafone and 2degrees means Kiwis won’t incur mobile data charges when they access essential COVID-19 information, health information and resources, and eligible online health services.

The number of sponsored websites will increase over time so New Zealanders can access even more key health information and services without mobile data charges.

In the first instance, anyone using the mobile networks of the country’s largest telco providers can now access 11 key health websites and two GP portals free of data charges.

All mobile data charges for these websites will be charged back to the Ministry until June 2021, with six monthly reviews to confirm extensions to the initiative.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says this ensures people who use pre-paid mobiles can continue to access important health, mental health and wellbeing information through their mobile if they run out of data.