ProCare Welcomes Announcement Of New Waikato Medical School As A Commitment To Strengthening Primary Care Workforce

Leading healthcare provider, ProCare, warmly welcomes the announcement from Health Minister Simeon Brown and Universities Minister Dr Shane Reti that Cabinet has approved the establishment of a new medical school at the University of Waikato.

While the school won’t open until 2028, the announcement includes a strong focus on primary care and rural health which is much needed.

Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive of ProCare says: “With around 50% of GPs due to retire in the next 10 years this is a significant and timely investment in New Zealand’s healthcare workforce. The decision to prioritise primary care and rural health in the new Waikato Medical School aligns closely with the needs of our communities and the future of general practice.

“This is more than ‘just’ a new medical school – it’s a long-term investment in the health and wellbeing of the people of Aotearoa New Zealand. We commend the Government for listening to the sector and taking decisive action,” continues Norwell.

The graduate-entry programme will add 120 new doctor training places annually, helping to address the growing shortage of GPs and primary care clinicians across the motu.

“General practices are already feeling the strain of being able to meet increasing patient demand – especially in our rural and underserved communities. This announcement is a proactive step toward ensuring continuity of care and equitable access to health services,” says Norwell.

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“This is a pivotal moment which will help reshape the pipeline of medical education. By creating more flexible pathways into medicine and embedding primary care at the heart of training, we can attract a more diverse and community-focused cohort of future doctors,” Norwell adds.

The announcement also complements recent expansions in nursing, pharmacy, and midwifery programmes at the University of Waikato, reinforcing a holistic approach to workforce development.

“It is unclear at this early stage exactly how the four-year degree programme will focus specifically on primary care, but we look forward to working collaboratively with the University and the Government to help support clinical placements of those graduates and ensure that students gain meaningful experience in general practice settings,” concludes Norwell.

About ProCare
ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi. As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to more than 830,000 people across Auckland and Northland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz

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