Compliance demands on GPs will be monitored

14 March 2001

Immediate release

Compliance demands on GPs will be monitored

The Independent Practitioner Association Council of New Zealand (IPAC) says it will monitor how government agencies respond to recommendations that they pare back bureaucratic demands on the primary care health sector.

IPAC’s Chief Executive Victor Klap said advice released today from the General Practice Test Panel on compliance costs was “thoughtful and practical”, but had to be implemented to make a difference to patients and GPs.

“It is sound advice that will reduce pressure on consultation fees,” Mr Klap said.

“A main aim in addressing compliance demands is to help ensure that unnecessary compliance costs are not added to patient fees. Cost should not be a barrier to patient access to primary care.”

He said IPAC would monitor through its members whether government agencies made changes in their demands on the sector, and report back to the Government at the end of the year.

“Unnecessary compliance is a stressful burden on the primary health care sector. IPAs’ are very supportive of any changes that make it easier for GPs to focus on patients,” he said

ENDS

IPAC is a national body representing 15 Independent Practitioner Associations (IPAs) which cover 730 community-based practices, attended by some 1,800 GPs and over 2,000 practice nurses.

Each year it is estimated two and a half million New Zealanders seek health services and advice from these IPAC member practices.

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