Media Statement
Sunday July 7 2002
Labour admits Health Care not affordable now – and asks us to wait 8-10 years.
Labour has admitted that health care in New Zealand is not affordable now, says Alliance Leader Laila Harré in response
to the release of Labour’s Health Policy.
“Labour has said that New Zealanders can expect ‘affordable health care in 8-10 years’ - admitting that it’s not
affordable now.
“The astonishing thing is that Labour is also telling New Zealanders that they will have to wait for 8-10 years before
it is affordable. That means 8-10 years more of preventable cases of rheumatic fever, asthma and diabetes. 8-10 years
more of people not going to the doctor when they need to.
“Unfortunately epidemics don’t go away because you tell them to wait 8-10 years. They just get worse.
“The only new money that Labour is saying they will put into Primary Health Care is the $400 million already allocated
by the Labour-Alliance Government. I fail to see how Labour can construct almost an entire policy around things that
have already been achieved by this Government.”
Laila Harré said that Labour’s policy was very short on details - including how they were going to pay for any
improvements in health care - and concrete commitments.
“There is no new money to cut hospital waiting lists, to deal with DHB debt or to solve the crisis in rural health.”
The Alliance will release its Health Policy tomorrow morning.
ENDS