Briefing to the Minister of Health
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners looks forward to working with the new Minister of Health, Hon Andrew Little, during the coming years. The purpose of this paper is to brief the Minister on the role of the College and the current issues facing general practice and primary care (sometimes referred to as community-based medicine) in New Zealand.
Sustainability of the GP workforce
New Zealand has a GP shortage, with the number of full-time equivalent GPs per 100,000 dropping, retirement intentions increasing as the workforce gets older, and burn-out becoming a significant issue
We need more Māori and Pasifika GPs
New Zealand does not currently have enough Māori and Pasifika GPs to match the young and growing Māori and Pasifika population.
Health Equity
The standard of health of the most privileged or advantaged groups in New Zealand should be attainable for all New Zealanders, irrespective of their ethnicity, the area they live in, or their ability to pay.
Changing models of care
Primary care is changing rapidly. COVID-19 has been an extraordinary event for general practice in New Zealand – one that highlighted inequity and showcased the role of technology in medicine like never before.