Hon David Cunliffe
Minister of Health
27 May2008
Populist statements on bonding don’t equal policy
Minister of Health David Cunliffe said John Key’s comment that National would bond medical students highlights
National’s ad-hoc approach to healthcare policy.
“Last night Mr Key was reported as saying the National Party was considering bonding medical students as part of any
student loan agreement. Today they are only considering a voluntary scheme. Which is it’?”
“Clearly Mr Key is taking an ad-hoc approach to developing policy if he can’t even maintain a clear stance for 24 hours
on bonding of medical students.”
Mr Cunliffe said the Government has put a considerable amount of work into developing a comprehensive workforce
development plan, which is ongoing – that plan was giving consideration voluntary bonding as well as a range of other
initiatives.
As part of that comprehensive policy training places for doctors had increased twice under this Government to 365
meaning that this year the highest number ever of first year medical students were in place.
In November this year an extra 40 young doctors will graduate from medical school and increased investment means a
further 40 new students are starting as medical students this year.
The Government has also increased number of places on GP vocational training (The number of Clinical Training Agency
(CTA) funded training places was increased this year from 69 to 104 in the 2008 academic year), and has exposed
increasing numbers of 5th year medical students to working in rural locations in areas like Southland and West Coast
through an immersion programme.
”We have done all these things as part of an overall health workforce strategy. Ad-hoc statements about one group in the
health workforce only show a lack of understanding and demonstrate a complete absence of policy.”
ENDS