NZ First to pitch for free healthcare for children

New Zealand First will make free healthcare for all primary children a key negotiating plank in post-election talks, says leader Winston Peters.

The declaration comes as a UMR Research poll reveals parents rank the continuation of free health services for under 6-year-olds as the measure they believe would help their family the most.

The poll involved 1367 readers of Tots to Teens magazine, on behalf of the Littlies Lobby, a joint initiative between Plunket and the Children's Commissioner.

It found 55 per cent rated the continuing free healthcare for under 6s as the most helpful measure; 46.7 per cent opted for removing GST from basic food items; 31.7 per cent wanted a universal tax credit system; and 28 per cent wanted cheaper daycare.

NZ First made free doctors visits part of a coalition agreement with National in 1996.

It proved problematic with some doctors, who refused to make a blanket "no fee" commitment.

But significant subsidies ensured that most doctors were able to provide free or much cheaper visits.

NZ First is now expanding on its initiative, pledging this election to introduce "free" visits for under 13s and any children over that age still at primary school.

The party estimates it would cost $40-60 million a year - although with Primary Health Organisation subsidies kicking in, the figure could be even lower.

Mr Peters is refusing to state any bottom-line negotiating positions his party will take before the election.

He did not believe the free healthcare would be a deal-breaker for either National or Labour.

"If you actually believe that people are a capital investment then it will not be a sticking point. I don't see how they could argue against it."

In Parliament yesterday, Mr Peters said his party's policy was designed to keep pace with rising costs by adjusting the subsidy to keep visits free.

But Labour had failed to make sufficient adjustments, resulting in higher fees or the imposition of fees, he said.

Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor said the subsidies had been regularly raised and a Consumers Institute survey this year showed average PHO fees for under-6s were $1.60.

Doctors were subsidised $32.50 a visit for under-6s in 1997 and $37.40 today, ensuring doctors should be able to offer free consultations, he said.

But National MP Paul Hutchison said he had phoned four practices yesterday and they charged between $3 and $18 a visit for under-6s.

Ministry of Health figures show that although many PHOs offered free care, some did not and the average charge was $1.45.

Some private practices charge more, although one Consumers survey last year put the average cost for those visits at just $1.59, or $2.15 for casual visits.

Health Minister Annette King told the Herald doctors had always reserved the right to charge a part-payment, because they were concerned that if they committed to a free service, subsidies might not then be increased.

Mr Peters said his commitment was to offering doctors sufficient subsidies to offer free care, in the expectation that their fees were free or "as close to free as possible".

Neither Mrs King nor Mr Hutchison were prepared to discuss their parties' positions on free visits for all primary schoolchildren.