A $400 million election commitment to strengthen general practice has been welcomed by New Zealand’s GP advocacy organisation, GenPro, which says the country’s primary healthcare system is under enormous pressure from workforce shortages, rising costs and growing difficulties for patients trying to see a doctor.
GenPro has welcomed the ACT Party’s proposal to invest an additional $400 million over four years, equivalent to $100 million annually, into general practice services.
The organisation says sustained investment is urgently needed to retain experienced doctors, recruit new GPs and nurses, and improve access to primary healthcare across Aotearoa.
However, GenPro is warning that the detail of the funding package will be critical to determining whether the investment delivers meaningful improvements for patients.
GP Shortages and Rising Costs Putting Healthcare Under Pressure
GenPro Chair Dr Angus Chambers says general practice is facing significant challenges, with patients struggling to secure appointments while medical practices deal with staff shortages and increasing operating costs.
The organisation argues that general practice forms the foundation of New Zealand’s healthcare system, providing essential services ranging from routine consultations and preventative care to the management of chronic and complex medical conditions.
Without sufficient funding, practices can struggle to recruit and retain healthcare professionals, maintain services and meet increasing patient demand.
GenPro says the proposed additional $100 million a year represents an important acknowledgement of the need to strengthen primary healthcare.
But it wants assurances that the funding will address the underlying pressures facing practices rather than simply creating additional expectations for an already stretched workforce.
Rural and High-Needs Communities Must Not Be Left Behind
A central concern for GenPro is ensuring additional investment reaches general practices serving rural communities and populations with higher healthcare needs.
These practices can face particular challenges recruiting medical professionals, meeting operating costs and providing accessible services.
For Māori whānau, particularly those living in rural communities or areas where access to healthcare is already difficult, improvements to the general practice workforce could be especially important.
Barriers such as travel distances, appointment availability and the affordability of healthcare can make it more difficult for patients to receive timely treatment.
Strengthening primary healthcare services in high-needs communities could help improve access to preventative care, earlier diagnosis and ongoing management of health conditions.
However, the funding announcement does not yet establish how much of the proposed investment would be directed towards rural providers, Māori health services or practices serving communities experiencing significant health inequities.
GenPro Wants Funding That Reflects the Real Cost of Care
GenPro has consistently argued that general practice funding must reflect the actual cost of delivering healthcare.
The organisation has previously called for a 30 percent increase in general practice funding over three years, alongside an independent mechanism to adjust funding as the cost of providing care changes.
Those recommendations form part of its Seven Steps to Restore General Practice roadmap, which outlines measures intended to strengthen the primary healthcare system.
GenPro says funding arrangements must support the recruitment and retention of GPs and nurses, recognise increasingly complex patient needs and make general practice a sustainable career choice.
The organisation is also seeking a funding system that responds to changing operating costs rather than allowing financial pressures to accumulate over time.
Will $400 Million Make It Easier to See a Doctor?
While GenPro supports ACT’s proposed investment, it says the ultimate measure of success must be whether patients experience better access to healthcare.
That means more than simply allocating additional money to the sector.
The funding would need to support a stronger workforce, financially sustainable practices and improved availability of appointments.
GenPro is particularly concerned that new investment should not be accompanied by additional obligations that place further pressure on practices without providing the resources needed to deliver them.
The organisation has not indicated that ACT’s commitment, on its own, would resolve the wider challenges facing general practice.
Instead, it is calling for the funding details to demonstrate how the proposed investment would translate into practical improvements for healthcare providers and their patients.
Healthcare Funding Becomes an Election Battleground
With the November 7 general election approaching, healthcare access and workforce pressures are emerging as significant issues for political parties.
GenPro is encouraging all parties to recognise the importance of adequately funding general practice when developing their health policies.
The organisation says the future of primary healthcare depends on long-term investment that allows practices to maintain services, attract medical professionals and respond to the increasingly complex needs of their communities.
For patients, the stakes are straightforward: being able to access a GP when they need one.
For Māori whānau and communities where access to healthcare is already challenging, the allocation of any new funding will be particularly important.
GenPro’s message is clear: the additional $400 million is welcome, but the real test will be whether it delivers more doctors, stronger local health services and better access to care for New Zealanders.
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