UPDATED: 10:12am – Half of all New Zealanders will pay $8 or less to go to the doctor, under policy announced by Labour yesterday.
Labour said the remaining New Zealanders who are not on low incomes will still see their doctor visit fees drop by about $10, if their GP practice signs up.
Labour leader Jacinda Ardern announced the policy at the party’s Pacific launch in Mangere today, after entering through cheering crowds flanked by David Tua. National this week announced policy to extend $18 doctor visits to another 600,000 low-income New Zealanders.
Ardern today said that didn’t go far enough, and under Labour those subsidised visits would drop to $8. “This will apply to people enrolled in both Very Low Cost Access practices and other practices.”
Labour said Kiwis who are on the Very Low Cost Access scheme or are Community Service Card holders will have their maximum fee cut from $18 to $8, and costs for teenagers will drop from $12 to $2.
Under-13s will remain free. As part of the policy the Community Services Card will be extended to another 350,000 New Zealanders.
Adults and teenagers who are not on the low-cost scheme will get a $10 reduction in their fee if their GP practice chooses to take up the extra funding offer. Labour said this would reduce the average fee from $42 to $32.
Ardern said funding for the policy would come from the $8 billion of increased health funding pledged by Labour over the next four years.
“GP practices will also get a further $46m over and above the funding to reduce fees, a 5 per cent increase on current funding… Labour will also invest $30m over three years to boost the number of GP training places to 300 a year.
“This initiative will cut fees for New Zealanders while we undertake a full review of the primary care system aimed at better targeting subsidies, ensuring practices’ financial sustainability, and reducing other barriers to access. This review will keep zero fees for under-13s and look to further lower fees for others,” Ardern said.
Labour said its GP policy would cost $259m per year. The announcement was met with rapturous applause by crowds of hundreds at the Mangere town centre. Pacifica children were more likely to develop rheumatic fever, which she described as a national shame.
“We know that will make a huge, huge difference,” Ardern told crowds. The announcement was preceded by a performance from traditional male Samoan dancers and a rendition of “This little light of mine”.
The Mangere town centre was packed by hundreds of locals, mostly Pacifika, who clapped, cheered and held phones up to film and photograph the spectacle, as Ardern looked on.
Afterward Aupito Su’a William Sio began a rousing chant of “party tick Labour”.
GP fees – how Labour says they will change under its policy
Very Low Cost Access practices:
• 13-17-year-olds: From $12 to $2
• Adults: From $18 to $8
Other practices that sign up to the extra funding:
• 13-17-year-olds: From $30 to $20
• Adult: From $42 to $32
-NewstalkZB
