Patient Fees Could Rise 10 Percent Or More After Déjà Vu Budget Ignores General Practice

The General Practice Owners Association says patient fees could rise by 10 percent or more this year just to cover costs after the Budget did nothing to fix a funding and retention crisis in primary healthcare.

GenPro Chair Dr Angus Chambers said the Budget was a missed opportunity and primary healthcare is hugely disappointed once again.

“The government currently puts $1.3 billion or just 4 percent of its $30 billion health budget toward general practice. A 10 percent uplift was urgently required in 2025/26 just to catch up and maintain existing services, with more investment needed in later years. It didn’t happen.

“General practice will have a feeling of déjà vu after successive Budgets have failed to increase government funding to keep pace with rising costs and more complex health needs.

The result is that patients are waiting longer to see a doctor, practices are closing or reducing their services, and have significant staff shortages.”

On top of the 10 percent increase in funding that was needed not materialising, general practices will also have to adjust to prescription renewals being extended from three months to one year.

“Some general practices are at breaking point, and we’ll forego further income due to prescription changes. The end result is that communities are at risk of losing their family doctors.”

With nothing in the Budget, GenPro said its one remaining hope is that Health New Zealand uses its increase in operational funding to significantly increase funding for general practice when it makes its annual adjustment in June.

“We have to remain hopeful that Health New Zealand will use its operational budget to support general practice, although this hasn’t happened in the past to the extent that is needed,” said Dr Chambers.

GenPro members are owners and providers of general practices and urgent care centres throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. For more information visit www.genpro.org.nz

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