Policy promises: How do the parties’ health policies compare?
Friday, 13 October 2023
Health professionals across the board have been striking, hospital specialist and surgery waiting lists have blown out, people are waiting weeks to see their GPs, 24-hour clinics can no longer stay open 24 hours and EDs are overrun.
Our ailing health system is one of the most challenging issues the country faces and whoever forms the next Government has a big job ahead of them to right the ship.
Colorectal surgeon Frank Frizelle is among the many surgeons who have been forced to decide which patients have “the worst cancer and won’t survive”.
For Frizelle, the top issues in health are workforce shortages, adequate resourcing of the health system, developing comprehensive cancer centres in New Zealand and measuring unmet need in health.
He believes developing comprehensive cancer centres would be an easy solution for one major issue.
“This would improve cancer care, increase resources in secondary care by moving cancer out of acute hospitals, and improve the equity issues with cancer outcome.”
For a long time, both major parties have failed to manage health adequately, he says.
For Jackie Burrows, chief executive of He Waka Tapu, supporting the wellbeing of Māori and reducing health inequity for Māori are key issues.
Working on prevention and early detection of chronic conditions in Māori like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and stroke - diseases that collectively make up the largest cause of death and impairment for Māori - need to be front and centre, she says.
Any party that recognises there is inequity in the health system could address these issues, she says.
“If they recognise this is an issue, they then have the ability to think on what needs to change to support wellbeing across New Zealand. A system that addresses inequity and works to change this for Māori will work for all.”
Improving access to healthcare and having the systems and resources that allow professionals to work well in this space are also important, Burrows says.
Canterbury Charity Hospital founder Phil Bagshaw says the “most important single thing” is improving healthcare standards.
“What would anyone want for themselves and their nearest and dearest?
“They need free access to a high quality system that meets the needs of the people that is designed around long-term investment in three things … equality, sound health workforce leadership and sustainability.”
How do the parties’ policies stack up?
Here is a list of the campaign promises, taken from Policy.nz, and compiled to help you make an informed decision on election day.
Overview of key policies:
Labour has promised free dental care for under 30s and to train hundreds more doctors by 2027.
Retain free prescriptions.
Limit the number of vape stores nationally to 600.
Make cervical screening free for those aged 25 to 69.
The National Party plans to bring back targets for wait times and cancer treatment and provide financial incentives for GP clinics to lift immunisation rates.
Establish a third medical school.
Create a bonding scheme for nurses and midwives working in New Zealand.
Increase funding for new cancer treatments.
ACT says it will subsidise common elective surgeries in private hospitals.
Abolish Te Aka Whai Ora Māori Health Authority.
Enable physician assistants to take on more tasks.
The Green Party says it will provide free dental care for everyone.
Ban most alcohol advertising and all sponsorships.
Provide free mental health care.
Te Pāti Māori says it will establish a Māori Health Funding Authority.
Introduce a Māori health card.
Make Māori eligible for cancer screenings 10 years earlier.
NZ First says it will compensate people who lost jobs due to Covid-19 vaccination requirements.
Increase funding for medicines and review Pharmac.
Abolish Te Aka Whai Ora Māori Health Authority.
The Opportunities Party (TOP) says it will provide free primary healthcare to under 30s.
- Provide free basic mental health care to under 30s.
- Provide free dental care to under 30s.
Te Whatu Ora:
A year ago, the Government established a nationalised health system, merging 20 district health boards into two national entities – Te Whatu Ora/Health New Zealand and Te Aka Whai Ora/Māori Health Authority.
Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori would retain the reforms. National, ACT and NZ First, however, would abolish the Māori Health Authority and reprioritise health spending.
Workforce:
The health system is short of more than 8000 nurses, doctors and other health professionals. Addressing the workforce gaps needs to be top of the list, health experts say.
National has promised to increase the number of placements at Auckland and Otago medical schools.
- Offer automatic six-month work visas to qualified nurses and midwives from overseas.
- Provide relocation grants to up to 1000 qualified overseas nurses or midwives.
Labour has said it would increase doctors’ placements in medical schools.
Create 700 additional nursing placements.
Increase overseas recruitment of senior medical workers.
Expand healthcare apprenticeship scheme.
ACT has promised to speed up evaluations for migrants seeking work in primary healthcare
- Enable physician assistants to take on more tasks.
Dental care:
Labour and TOP have focused their dental care policies on under 30s with free dental care for this group. Labour promises to also:
Increase the number of dental places at university by 50%.
Encourage dental clinics to hire workers from overseas.
The Greens took it a step further and promised free dental care for everyone, and the establishment of a New Zealand Dental Service for free basic check-ups and services - all funded by a wealth tax. It would also:
- Increase the number of dental professionals.
Mental health:
The Greens have focused on mental health, promising to provide free mental health services for children and young people.
Create school hubs with health and social services.
Provide free mental health care.
Implement recommendations from the Ministry of Health’s suicide prevention strategy.
Deliver mental health and addiction programmes targeted at Māori.
Train more mental health professionals.
Improve help for people suffering from eating disorders.
National has promised to establish a minister for mental health.
Increase funding for victim support services.
Create a fund to support community mental health organisations.
Work with the construction sector to improve access to mental health services.
Te Pati Māori proposes the establishment of a kaupapa Māori mental health service.
ACT says it will establish a national mental health and addiction agency.
Public health and health services:
Vaping, or limiting vaping, is high on Labour’s list:
Increase penalties for supplying vapes to under-18s.
Limit the number of vape stores to 600.
Investigate options to reduce the visibility of vape products in shops.
Make funding for Māori health providers equitable.
Improve study and employment options for Māori health workers.
National will limit access to free prescriptions to those on low incomes and those over 65.
Extend free breast cancer screening to those aged up to 74 years.
Increase funding for new cancer treatments.
Longer postnatal stays for the mothers of new babies.
ACT says it will review Pharmac.
Increase funding to GPs.
Sell public hospitals to private investors under leaseback arrangements.
Repeal all or part of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act.
Give the health minister the power to override regulations.
The Green Party says it will ban most alcohol advertisings and all alcohol sponsorships.
Regulate the vaping industry and ban disposable vapes.
Increase access to overdose prevention services.
Legislate for a right to a healthy environment.
Establish Healthy Air standards for building ventilation.
Create ventilation standards for homes to reduce airborne illnesses.
Speed up access to support for people with neurodivergent conditions.
NZ First says it would hold an inquiry into the Covid-19 response.
Oppose the use of vaccine mandates.
Provide Hato Hone St John with adequate government funding.
Ensure Whānau Āwhina Plunket is adequately funded.
Increase funding for medicines and review Pharmac.
TOP says it will fund a new mental health and trauma centre in Christchurch.
Provide healthcare workers with liveable wages and safer hours.
Introduce an accelerated postgraduate medical programme for people with relevant degrees.
Increase financial incentives for medical workers who move to hard to staff areas or specialities.
Support Te Whatu Ora to provide more GP practices in rural areas.
Provide free basic eye care to under 30s.
Increase funding for vape cessation programmes.
Make all contraception free.
Make antenatal ultrasounds free.
Te Pati Māori says it will provide free primary health and dental care and medication to low income families.
Increase funding for Te Aka Whai Ora.
Increase funding for Whānau Ora and drug abuse prevention.
Improve access to health services for disabled people.
Ensure antenatal screening is not biased towards termination if disability is diagnosed.
Introduce a Māori health card.
Make Māori eligible for cancer screenings 10 years earlier.
Reform Oranga Tamariki and establish an independent Mokopuna Māori Authority.