Latest news with #GeneralPracticeEducationProgramme
Scoop
25-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
General Practice Training Programme To Be Fully Funded Is A Win For The Future Of The General Practice Workforce
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners welcomes the Minister of Health's announcement today at GP25: Conference for General Practice of significant additional funding for registrars across the General Practice Education Programme (GPEP). This announcement will go a long way to strengthen the training and grow the next generation of the specialist GP workforce, and includes: In 2025, training fees for doctors in their second, third, and post-third year of GPEP to encourage completion of their training. Fellowship assessment costs for around 200 GPEP trainees to enable them to complete their training and become Fellows. From 2026, full ongoing training and education costs for an estimated 400 GPEP year 2 and 3 trainees each year. Currently, GP registrars only have their first year of GPEP funded with the second and third years having to be self-funded. This funding approach is different to all the other medical training programmes (in New Zealand and Australasian medical colleges) that are fully funded for their entirety. College President Dr Samantha Murton says, "This funding will be a gamechanger for current and future trainees. This is a significant acknowledgement for the specialism of the general practice workforce and the vital role we play in healthcare being as important as those of our peers in secondary hospital settings. "Not only will this funding offer the necessary financial support our GP registrars need throughout their training, but we are optimistic that the news will encourage medical graduates who have an interest in general practice but have been put off by the financial barriers to make the step to train as a specialist GP. To them, I say welcome and you won't regret your decision. The College has been a strong and vocal advocate for the current and future general practice workforce and is enthusiastic that the funding for primary care is heading in the right direction to ensure that it is sustainable. College Chief Executive Toby Beaglehole says, "We are focused on building a sustainable workforce for the future, which starts with training and the equitability of our program costs to other specialist medical training. "This funding sends a signal to the sector that the expertise of general practice is valued as a vital part of the health system. We are very grateful to the Minister for his recognition of the importance of primary care training to deliver healthier patients. "This funding will also help reduce costs to the rural GP workforce who support communities that need more specialist GPs as soon as possible." The Government has also announced that capitation funding reweighting will be introduced from 1 July 2026. The College acknowledges that reweighting capitation funding will focus on the distribution of funding across general practice, so that practices with a higher needs population of enrolled patients will receive more funding to care for them. Dr Murton says "We also welcome the changes to the capitation funding formula to include multimorbidity, rurality, and deprivation as factors. It is key, as the Minister has mentioned in his speech today, that these factors are regularly reviewed to meet the ongoing patient needs of the primary health care system." The Ministry of Health with Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora will review capitation reweighting every five years, with the first review in 2028 so that it remains fit for purpose. College Chief Executive, Toby Beaglehole says "I'd like to acknowledge Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora and the Minister for their support of our advocacy and their willingness to work with the College to better fund the future of our primary care workforce in New Zealand. Today is a massive win for putting patients first, and as the Minister said a first step in delivering a sustainable primary care workforce for general practice and rural hospital medicine."
Scoop
24-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Strengthening Primary Care To Better Meet Patient Needs
Minister of Health The Government is taking further action to ensure Kiwis can see a doctor, focusing on improved funding for rural practices, faster access to primary care, and a stronger pipeline of locally trained GPs, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. Updating GP funding to better reflect patient needs Setting a new health target for faster GP access Backing GP training and retention 'We want all New Zealanders to be able to see a GP when they need one, regardless of where they live,' Mr Brown says. 'In rural areas especially, GP clinics with only one doctor or closed books makes it harder for patients to get timely appointments. We're committed to changing that. 'The health system should reflect the needs of patients, wherever they live in New Zealand. That's why we're making changes to the way GP clinics are funded to ensure money goes where it's needed most.' The government's funding method for GP clinics, known as capitation, will be updated for the first time in more than 20 years. This is proposed to take effect from 1 July 2026. 'The current model is outdated and doesn't reflect the needs of patients. The revised formula will go beyond just age and sex, to also include multimorbidity, rurality, and socioeconomic deprivation. 'These changes will better distribute funding to where it's needed most, so that GP clinics with a higher needs population of enrolled patients will receive more funding to care for them.' The Government is also introducing a new national health target to drive timely access to primary care. 'People shouldn't have to wait weeks to see a doctor. Delays can lead to poorer health outcomes, more pressure on hospitals, and growing frustration for patients. We're focused on delivering timely, quality care that puts patients first.' 'This new target will be developed in partnership with the primary care sector and is proposed to ensure that more than 80 per cent of people can see a primary care provider within one week, taking effect from 1 July 2026. It will take effect from 1 July 2026 and aligns with the target of ensuring 80 percent of people receive faster access to primary mental health and addiction services within one week.' The Government is also making targeted investments in general practice training to strengthen the GP workforce and support long-term retention. 'The General Practice Education Programme (GPEP), delivered by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, is the only accredited training and education pathway in New Zealand for doctors wanting to specialise as GPs. Vocational training through GPEP takes a minimum of three years to complete, but currently only the first year of training is funded. 'We are increasing funding for this programme to ensure it is valued and supported in the same way as other medical specialist training programmes.' As part of this investment, the Government is funding: Training fees in 2025 for doctors in their second, third, and post-third year of GPEP to encourage completion of their training Exam and preparation costs for around 200 GPEP trainees who have completed, or nearly completed, training but not yet taken the fellowship exam Full ongoing training and education costs for approximately 400 GPEP year 2 and 3 trainees each year 'Our goal is to make general practice a more attractive and sustainable career path, especially in rural and high-needs communities, so we can bring more doctors into the areas that need them most. 'By fully covering training and exam costs, we'll enable hundreds of doctors to complete the pathway to becoming GPs, giving them the support they need to finish their training and enter the health workforce – building a stronger pipeline of experienced GPs who can train and mentor the next generation. 'This Government knows that primary care is the cornerstone of the health system, which is why we're committed to making it more accessible and responsive to the unique needs of communities. 'Improving access, particularly in rural and underserved areas, will help ease pressure on hospitals and ensure New Zealanders get timely, quality care when and where they need it,' Mr Brown says.
