Green Budget: Free GPs for all

The Green Party has launched its plan for Free GPs as part of its Green Budget.

“Healthcare isn’t a luxury, it’s a human right we can afford to provide to all,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.

“In the last election, we campaigned on providing free dental for all. Today, we’re expanding that to ensure nobody is priced out of receiving the care they need, whether that is from the dentist or the doctor.

“Successive Governments have failed to invest in the health of our communities, resulting in more and more people falling through the cracks and being left behind. A shocking 44 percent of Māori have an unmet need for primary care.

“This is just common sense. Free GP visits will reduce the pressure our hospitals are under by stopping small issues becoming big ones that need emergency treatment.

“Our approach will make sure communities right across the country have access to the care they need with our Community Health Service. We will create community care clinics in the highest need areas first, such as South Auckland, which has an estimated shortage of about 127 GPs.

“Community not-for-profit primary care providers, such as kaupapa Māori providers, will also be funded to provide free GP and nurse visits alongside the Community Health Service.

“We will build the workforce we need to support our communities and ensure everyone has access to a GP by maximising the medical student caps at both Auckland and Otago University. This will begin to close workforce gaps and ensure we have what we need to meet increased demand.

“Rather than leaning on private healthcare and leaving thousands out in the cold like the current Government, we can take control and build a health system that supports all of us and leaves nobody behind,” says Marama Davidson.

A Green Government will provide:

• Free community care services to everyone in Aotearoa, including GP and nurse visits.
• The establishment of publicly provided community care clinics, starting in areas with the highest needs.
• Funding for diagnostics vans with GPs and nurses, to ensure that wherever you are, you can access the care that you need.
• An expansion of the Minor Ailments Programme to help pharmacies relieve pressure of GP services and hospitals.

We’ll also have a package of funding dedicated to supporting Māori health, including:

• Funding for Kaupapa Māori services, including Kia Piki Te Ora suicide prevention, kaupapa Māori maternity care services in Tai Tokerau, Counties Manukau, Bay of Plenty and Tai Rawhiti.
• Re-establishing early bowel cancer screening for Māori and Pasifika people from 50 years of age, and working towards free bowl cancer screening for all from age 45, by 2029.
• Boosting the Māori workforce.
• Re-establishing Te Aka Whai Ora the Māori Health Authority.