The Government is funding a new two-year primary care training programme for up to 100 extra overseas-trained doctors once they are registered to work in New Zealand.
“It makes no sense that overseas-trained doctors living in New Zealand are willing to work in primary care, but can’t, because there aren’t enough training opportunities,” Health minister Simeon Brown said in a statement on Monday afternoon.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Brown are speaking with media following a meeting of the Cabinet this afternoon.
The pair will front reporters in the Beehive theatrette at about 4pm. A livestream of the press conference will be found at the top of this file.
“We are fixing this by building on a successful pilot in the Waikato and will support their transition into general practices that need them most.
“Under the plan, GP practices and other providers outside hospitals will also be paid an incentive to attract, recruit, and support up to 400 graduate registered nurses a year from this year.”
Brown said just over $30 million has been allocated over five years for the initiative. Providers, including general practices, will receive $20,000 per graduate nurse in rural areas, and $15,000 for those in cities.
“This helps attract essential healthcare staff where they’re desperately needed, particularly in rural areas,” he said.
“The Government will also invest in a new 24/7 digital healthcare service that will provide all New Zealanders with better access to video consultations with New Zealand-registered clinicians, such as GPs and nurse practitioners.
“This service will mean Kiwis can access primary healthcare from anywhere in New Zealand, 24 hours a day, seven days a week with the ability for GPs and nurses to also issue prescriptions or make referrals for lab tests.”
Brown also said Health New Zealand would deliver a $285 million performance-based uplift in funding over three years for general practice for July 1. He said this comes from the $16.68 billion in health funding last year and is in addition to the capitation uplift general practice receives annually.
“It will incentivise GPs to offer enhanced access, including keeping their books open to new patients, achieving key Government health targets such as increased immunisation rates, or supporting family doctors to undertake minor planned care services, and see patients in a timely manner.”
Brown became the Health Minister earlier this year following a reshuffle of ministerial portfolios. He succeeded Dr Shane Reti in the role.
Since taking on the portfolio, Brown has repeatedly said he wants to ensure New Zealanders have “access to timely, quality healthcare”.
Earlier on Monday, a Public Service Association survey of nearly 1300 health workers found 81% believed government cuts have damaged health services, 86% said the cuts will make it harder for people to get healthcare, and 72% believe the system is under-funded.
The Government has defended itself against claims of under-funding the system by pointing to its significant $16.68 billion funding across three Budgets last year.
There are two health-related goals that are part of the Government’s core public service targets.
The first is to have 95% of patients be admitted, discharged, or transferred from an emergency department within six hours. The latest quarterly report released in December – though only presenting data accurate to June – had this at 71.2%.
The second target is to have 95% of people wait less than four months for elective treatment. In June this was at 61.4%.
The Government last year implemented a reset programme for Health NZ which included replacing its board with a commissioner, Professor Lester Levy. This came amid claims of large overspending by the agency.
A number of senior health leaders have resigned in recent weeks, including director-general of health Dr Diana Sarfati, Health NZ chief executive Fepulea’i Margie Apa, and Pharmac chief executive Sarah Fitt.