Inadequate Funding From Health New Zealand Puts Further Pressure On Patients

The General Practice Owners Association of Aotearoa New
Zealand (GenPro) has firmly rejected the latest funding
offer from Health New Zealand, warning that patients will be
the ones who feel the pinch.

Health New Zealand this
week confirmed that it will increase base level funding by
4% despite the strong messages from the health sector that
much more is needed to ensure general practices remain
viable and continue to provide services to their
patients.

“Effectively, Health New Zealand has
shifted the cost of keeping general practice viable onto the
patients by underfunding general practices,” said Dr Angus
Chambers, Specialist GP and Chair of GenPro, which
represents most general practices across New
Zealand.

“Practices are facing increasing cost
pressures and workforce shortages, and all indications are
that a 14% increase in funding is desperately needed to
stabilise general practice. Health New Zealand has chosen to
increase the base funding by only 4%.”

Despite
strong initial feedback from GenPro on the inadequacy of the
proposed increase, the offer was confirmed this week, and
swiftly rejected by all general practice representatives.
Health New Zealand will impose the increase through a
compulsory variation to the contract.

“This will
impact our most vulnerable communities the most and create
further inequity in health outcomes, putting the viability
of many practices at risk,” said Dr Chambers.

He
said the proposal effectively means that patients will be
forced to pay more to fill the gap created by inadequate
funding, or general practices will be forced to reduce
services to stay viable.

“Many patients are already
struggling financially and this lack of investment by Health
New Zealand will only add to their woes.”

Increased
barriers created by affordability are going to hit the
highest-need populations the hardest, furthering unmet
need.

“These poor policy settings are causing the
worst access to general practice services in memory. Some
communities will lose all access to general health services,
injury care and mental health care in the coming
year.”

Dr Chambers also noted Health New Zealand’s
zero investment in Careplus and Services to Improve Access,
which are targeted at improving access to care for the most
vulnerable and highest-needs
patients.

“Under-investment in general practice is a
false economy that will result in delayed diagnoses, greater
ED attendance and hospital admissions, all of which will
cost a lot more than the investment needed to adequately
fund a sustainable GP service.

“This increase
recognises neither the fragile state of general practices
nor the cost-of-living crisis that New Zealanders are
facing. Health New Zealand needs to justify its
decision.”

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