Under 18s free doctors visits progressive step towards free health

Free doctors visits for under 18 year olds in some of the new public health organisations such as Hutt Valley PHO show that the four new public health agencies represent positive steps towards free health says Jim Anderton.

“The Progressives have recognised that we will not get free health care for all New Zealanders in one step, but incremental gains such as free doctors visits for all under 18 year olds in one PHO are a good start.

“Of course I would want to see fast progress towards universal free health care, but incremental gains are better than moving backwards as we did in the 1980s and 90s.

“Free health care for school age children was a prominent goal of the Progressives and was one of our Cornerstone Commitments. When this is achieved we want to see free doctors’ visits for older New Zealanders, and then for all New Zealanders.

“These moves were announced in March, before the general election, and were part of the investment of more than $400 million of new funding into primary health care over the next three years,” said Jim Anderton.

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