Media Release

27 September 2007

Free Health Care for Under-Sixes Threatened

National’s plan to remove caps on doctors’ fees if it becomes government is bad news for the parents of children under six who will benefit from the $8.25 million investment into child health says New Zealand First health spokesperson Barbara Stewart.

“The additional funding was announced last month and will be made available from 1 January to practices that commit to providing free care for under sixes.

“It’s fairly safe to say that parents on lower incomes or fixed incomes would prefer to have guaranteed free or low cost treatment for their children and not have to rely on “market forces” to keep costs down.

“New Zealand First has always advocated free health care for under sixes as all children deserve the best possible start in life and access to medical treatment should not be restricted in any way by family finances.

“Unfortunately it seems that those least able to look after themselves will once again be the victims of political expediency,” said Mrs Stewart.

ENDS