ACT proposes $400m boost to retain GPs, recruit from overseas
ACT has proposed a $400 million boost for general practice to retain GPs in New Zealand and attract more doctors from overseas.
The party says the funding would mean an extra $100 million a year on top of usual increases to capitation, the per-patient payment practices receive for enrolled patients, according to RNZ.
The policy was fronted by ACT's Tāmaki candidate James Christmas. He said 35 percent of GPs intend to retire within five years and 18 percent are considering a move overseas.
Christmas said in 2024/25, one in four adults and one in five children missed a GP visit because the wait was too long. ACT also says GPs now work an average of 33.9 hours a week, down from 36.4 hours a decade ago.
ACT says the extra funding would help practices offer competitive pay, keep experienced staff and encourage doctors to stay in practice. The party says that would increase the supply of appointments by keeping doctors New Zealand already has, rather than subsidising demand.
Labour is campaigning on three free GP visits a year for all New Zealanders. Its wider healthcare plan also includes free prescriptions and free maternity scans, and low-interest loans for doctors and nurse practitioners to set up new practices or buy into existing ones. Labour plans to pay for the free visits with a capital gains tax, according to the NZ Herald.
Christmas said Labour's free-visits policy would only make things worse. He said there is no point promising more free appointments if there are not enough doctors to provide them.
On overseas recruitment, New Zealand's Medical Council recognises 29 countries as having comparable health systems for streamlined doctor registration. Christmas said ACT would reform and streamline medical regulators to get more safe and competent professionals into the health system.
