Health Minister Annette King says the Government’s first
priority in primary health care funding is to target
low-income, high health needs New Zealanders, but it also
wants to ensure primary health care access is easier for
children.
“The first step toward achieving this priority
will be increasing the General Medical Services subsidy for
GP services to children under six to adjust for inflation
since the subsidy was introduced in July 1997.
“This
increase will apply to all GPs from 1 July 2002, and is
expected to cost up to $8 million.
“The Government
believes this will help to maintain free or very low cost
access for young children, and it signals our commitment to
extending free or low cost primary health care to include
all children.”
Ms King said other Government priorities
for primary health care included:
- The sustainability of
primary health care in rural areas. - To encourage the
establishment of Primary Health Organisations across the
country, though it will not be possible to fund them all to
provide low cost access
initially.
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