Government’s Primary Healthcare Spend Hasn’t Increased In Real Terms Since 2009

Government spending on primary healthcare has not
increased in its share of the total health budget, and
barely in real terms, since 2009, according to new
research.

The study – published in the journal of the
Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners on
Thursday – is the first analysis of primary healthcare as a
share of health funding.

Researchers from Victoria
University’s Health Services Research Centre found, on
average, New Zealand allocated 5.4 percent of its health
budget to primary care between 2009 and 2023.

Funding
for primary care “in nominal terms” nearly doubled in that
time from $667 million to $1277m, which equalled a 30
percent increase in real terms.

“Taking into account
population growth, PHC [primary healthcare] funding per
capita in real terms remained fairly stable, showing a 7
percent growth over the period.”

This raised concerns
about whether PHC was “truly being prioritised”, the
researchers said.

Patients missing out on primary care
were putting more pressure on hospitals, which meant acute
services took a larger share of the funding, perpetuating
the cycle.

“When patients face long waits, have to pay
for visits, or are not happy with the care received, they
turn to using 24-hr hospital services (free in NZ) for their
basic needs. This leads to more funding going to specialised
care as it becomes more overwhelmed with demand, which
further erodes PHC resources.”

The research called for
stronger financial prioritisation of primary care, routine
monitoring and minimum funding benchmarks “to ensure
resilience and equity of the health system”.

Health
Minister Simeon Brown said improving access to GPs for New
Zealanders was “a top priority” for him.

“It is
concerning that too many Kiwis are waiting too long to get a
doctor’s appointment.

“That is why we have made
several announcements targeted at increasing the number of
doctors and nurses in primary care as well as increased
funding for General Practice.”

Brown said he had also
asked officials for advice on a report he had received from
retired accountant Murray Lilley, which raised
concerns about front-line service delivery by primary health
organisations.

“My expectation is that funding for
primary health care is targeted towards front-line service
delivery, not back office bureaucracy, so that Kiwis can
access primary healthcare in a timely manner.”

The
government was also seeking to boost the GP workforce
through providing more placements for overseas trained
doctors and GP trainees, nurses and investing in telehealth,
he
said.

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