Foreign patients owe DHB $19,000

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A foreign patient owes Whanganui District Health Board $12,281 for treatment.

The person was one of a number of foreign patients to receive medical treatment in Wanganui and, with some skipping the country without paying their bill, debt for the sector is more than $19,000.

Much of the debt is likely to be written off.

According to figures released to the Wanganui Chronicle under the Official Information Act, foreign patients treated locally owed the health board $19,284 in unpaid bills as of June 30 last year.

The money was owed by 48 non-residents, with 36 of the outstanding bills referred to debt collection agencies.

Whanganui DHB chief executive Julie Patterson said it was likely the debts would be written off, as there was "very little" the board could do to chase them up.

"Efforts are made to try and get payment at time of treatment, which most do," she said. "Others who live in the country but are not eligible, may make payment arrangements."

However, Ms Patterson said only a small number of foreign nationals left without paying and most patients paid "in a timely manner".

New Zealand has a reciprocal free healthcare arrangement with some countries.