Act to spend $400m to retain more doctors, incentivise more appts

Act is promising to commit $400 million over four years to retain more doctors in New Zealand, attract them from overseas and incentivise offering more appointments.

Party leader David Seymour told a press conference that the extra $100 million a year represented an increase of about 6%, which he hoped would lead to at least 6% more patients being seen.

In a statement, the party took aim at Labour’s central policy of offering three free GP visits, funded by its capital gains tax, saying it didn’t address workforce capacity.

“Labour’s policy to hand out three taxpayer-funded GP visits each year for the worried well will only make things worse,” Act leader David Seymour said.

“There’s no point promising more free appointments if there aren’t enough doctors to provide them.

“Rather than subsidising demand, Act will increase the supply of appointments by keeping the doctors we’ve got, helping them see more patients, and attracting more from overseas.”

“With 35 per cent of GPs intending to retire within five years and 18 per cent considering moving overseas, we need to make it more attractive for them to stay.

“ACT’s funding will help practices offer competitive remuneration, retain experienced staff, and encourage doctors to remain in practice rather than retire early or move overseas.

Act said its policy could encourage more GPs to work fulltime.

“GPs work an average of 33.9 hours a week, down from 36.4 a decade ago, while nearly one in ten works 19 hours or fewer. Restoring average hours to previous levels would be equivalent to hundreds of additional full-time doctors, without recruiting a single new GP.

“Not every GP can or wants to work more hours. But better funding could help practices offer extra hours, reward additional appointments, and encourage experienced doctors to keep working longer.

The party would also work to attract more qualified doctors from overseas.

“Unlocking New Zealand’s potential means making sure poor health doesn’t hold people back. Combined with ACT’s plans to close the medicines gap with Australia, introduce Pharmacy First, and establish a world-class cancer centre, ACT has the most credible and comprehensive plan to improve healthcare for New Zealanders.”

The funding would be an ongoing $100 million annual boost to general practice, on top of normal capitation increases, totalling $400 million over the first four years.

The General Practice Owners Association welcomed ACT’s commitment to invest an additional $400 million in general practice over four years, saying sustained investment is essential to retaining GPs, attracting new doctors and improving access to primary care.

GenPro Chair Dr Angus Chambers said the commitment recognised the need to strengthen general practice and ensure more New Zealanders could see a GP when they needed one.

“New Zealand’s general practice system is under significant pressure. Patients are struggling to get appointments, practices are facing workforce shortages, and the cost of delivering care continues to rise.

“An additional $100 million a year for general practice is a welcome recognition that we need to invest in the workforce and services that provide the foundation of our health system.”

Chambers said the detail of the funding would be critical to ensuring it delivered meaningful improvements for patients and practices.

“General practice needs sustainable funding that reflects the actual cost of providing care, supports practices to recruit and retain GPs and nurses, and recognises the increasingly complex needs of patients.