12. MARYAN STREET (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
What progress has been made in supporting general practices that charge very low fees?
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister of Health) Link to this
From 1 October the Government will invest an additional $43 million over 4 years to support practices that charge very low fees. It is expected that this initiative will support around 15 percent of practices and allow them to continue to provide services to their often high-need communities.
A number! The initiative has been welcomed by the college of general practitioners, the New Zealand Medical Association, Health Care Aotearoa, and many, many others. I was not surprised, however, to learn that it was opposed by the National Party, which issued yet another call to raise the cost of seeing the family doctor. Affordable health care would be just one of the many things lost in National’s pursuit of tax cuts for its rich financial backers.
Barbara StewartWhat progress has been made by his ministry in actively working towards the objective of having free primary health care for under-sixes accessible to all New Zealand children, regardless of where they live?
There has been some progress. The member will be aware, I hope, if it is not too confusing—I am well aware of New Zealand First’s interest in this area—but the median fee is already zero, though the average fee is above zero, and, of course, for these practices they will all be zero for the under-sixes as part of the contract.