Government Focus On Physician Associates A Distraction From Real Issues

New workforce regulations in the future are a distraction from what’s needed now to fix the crisis in primary healthcare, says the General Practice Owners Association (GenPro).

“Planned regulation of small numbers of physician associates is welcome but will do absolutely nothing for reducing waiting times for people wanting to see a GP this week,” said Dr Angus Chambers, Chair of GenPro.

“Physician associates can be valued health workers, and we congratulate their gaining recognition of their skills and service, but they’ll be first to agree they’re not a substitute in a face-to-face consultation with a family doctor.

“Packing these regulations with other minor changes to prescribing rights to suggest that the government is demonstrating a commitment to providing high quality care.is misleading.

“The biggest change the government can make to improve health care is immediately invest in general practice to retain the GPs we have now and to make it more attractive for GPs to come to New Zealand. And it needs to overhaul the out-of-date funding model which is driving general practices out of business or restrict hours and service,” Dr Chambers says.

“A better funding model which reflected actual health needs of people, and true costs of running a general practice, in 2025 would be more effective at cutting waiting times and taking pressure off emergency departments.

“GenPro appreciates that government finances are restricted but general practice receives just five percent of the $30 billion health budget, which is significantly less than in other developed countries.

“Meanwhile GenPro is surprised that the government signed off on a new regulated profession in the midst of a consultation on whether it would be a good idea.

“Clearly the Ministry of Health’s Putting Patients First: Modernising health workforce regulation risks being seen as a Clayton’s consultation. GenPro will present its views but decisions taken in recent days suggest that the government has already made up its mind on what the future workforce looks like, packaging it as a panacea, and releasing it on a slow news day, when it is actually just tinkering around the edges and avoiding the big calls which need to be made.”

“It is ironic that the Ministry wants to put patients first, but the Minister doesn’t want to wait to hear from them,” Dr Chambers says.

GenPro members are owners and providers of general practices and urgent care centres throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. For more information visit www.genpro.org.nz

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