Funding Hike Shows Benefit Of Collective Voice For General Practice
A potential 13 percent increase in funding for general practice shows the benefit of a strong collective voice that supports family doctors and face-to-face consultations in our communities, says GenPro Chair Dr Angus Chambers.
The government announced today a 6.4 percent increase for general practice funding to reflect increasing costs, an uplift additional to a previously announced $95 million boost.
'Combining these would contribute a nine percent uplift in base capitation funding (with conditions) and an up to 13 percent total funding increase in the year ending June 2026, a level that is welcome and will help 'steady the ship',' says Dr Chambers.
'While not all general practice can access the $95 million, the overall increase is a marked improvement from previous years.
'It shows the Government is listening to GenPro, which called before the Budget for a minimum 10 percent increase to stabilise the viability of family doctors so they could continue to operate.
'Hon Simeon Brown is the first health minister in successive governments to have delivered a much-needed increase in funding, and we thank him for it.'
However, after years of under investment by successive governments, general practice will need another 10 percent or more increase in investment next year for it to stay viable, warns Dr Chambers.
'While the increase announced today will aid retention it will do nothing to encourage recruitment of new general practitioners. This will require long-term solutions with greater support than that offered today.
'To put the funding boost into context, general practice will receive about $1.5 billion or just five percent of the $31 billion health budget. A 10 percent uplift was urgently required for 2025/26 just to catch up and maintain existing services, and more investment will be needed in later years.'
Dr Chambers said the investment recognised the collective advocacy by GenPro members, who are owners and providers of general practices and urgent care centres throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
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