Only 14% of GP owners in survey support Labour's free appointments policy

Only 14 percent of general practice owners in a survey of 132 people support Labour's policy of three free GP appointments a year, according to the results reported by RNZ. The survey was run by GenPro, which states it represents more than 500 GP owners across Aotearoa.

Under Labour's plan, every New Zealander would receive three free doctor's visits a year through a new card called the Medicard. The visits would be at a person's enrolled general practice. Labour lists the total cost of the policy at $393.3 million and says it would be paid for by a targeted tax on profit. The party also says the visits would save the average household around $366 a year.

GenPro chair Dr Angus Chambers said GPs expected the policy to increase demand for appointments. He said GPs were concerned about their ability to meet that demand, given existing workforce shortages.

Labour's health spokesperson, Ayesha Verrall, said the party's plan includes measures to free up time for 4.5 million appointments. She said those measures include better telehealth, meaning consultations by phone or video, and a digital innovation fund.

The survey also asked respondents which party they would vote for based solely on health policy. Of those surveyed, 42 percent chose the Opportunity Party, 19 percent chose National and 13 percent chose ACT. Labour and the Green Party each received 8 percent, and New Zealand First received 0.8 percent. About 9.1 percent were undecided or did not pick a party.

Support was higher for several other parties' health proposals in the same survey. Some 93 percent backed the Opportunity Party's proposal to increase the share of Health NZ funding spent on primary care, the first-line care provided in the community. Eighty-six percent supported ACT's proposed $100 million annual increase in general practice funding. Eighty percent backed the Green Party's emphasis on prevention and community-based healthcare, and 80 percent supported New Zealand First's proposal to reduce administrative and compliance burdens on general practice. Seventy-one percent backed streamlining registration for overseas-trained doctors.

Labour says its health plan also includes no prescription charges and a guaranteed job for every graduate nurse. Chris Hipkins said in May that the party's promise of three free doctor's visits a year is realistic.