The New Zealand health system suffers from a severe productivity problem. Despite huge increases in funding from successive governments, we are actually getting less efficient. Between 1999 and 2008, health funding more than doubled in real terms yet the outputs from our medical facilities did not keep pace with this funding increase. We still have far too many New Zealanders dying on waiting lists and not getting vital treatment such as chemotherapy quickly enough. The National Government has made a small amount of progress but we need ACT as part of the next government to push for further change.
In a sense, the most important healthcare policy is economic growth. Our economy is stagnating and if we don’t commit to serious economic growth policies we won’t be able to fund the kind of world class health system New Zealanders deserve. We are competing with all countries (but Australia in particular) for skilled workers such as healthcare professionals. With Australians earning over thirty-five per cent more than New Zealanders, they are able to pay more in taxes and private fees for medical treatment than we are. In turn, we see a loss of healthcare professionals to Australia, and less ability to attract and retain healthcare professionals from the wider world. Similarly, the ability to afford world class equipment and pharmaceuticals depends on our wealth compared to other first world countries.
In the last Parliamentary term, with ACT’s pressure and support, the Government:
• Agreed to open up the ACC workplace account to competition;
• Ensured 99 percent of cancer patients started treatment within the recommended four weeks;
• Increased immunisation coverage for two year olds to 89 per cent.
ACT will continue to push for major health reform. A party vote for ACT is a vote to:
• Encourage competition between public and private sector health providers to encourage productivity gains;
• Reduce back-room bureaucracy so more resources can be spent on front line healthcare;
• Target primary healthcare subsidies at those on the lowest incomes rather than wasting resources on subsidies for the rich;
• Reduce taxes so individuals can pay for their own day to day health needs as well as take out comprehensive health insurance for them and their families. This will encourage competition between health providers to provide value for money services that patients want. It will also put the power in the hands of patients and encourage people to make good decisions about their own health;
• Review health regulations including occupational licensing, in order to allow providers to respond more flexibly to patients' requirements and hire qualified overseas expertise
• Reduce taxes and simplify regulation to create the kind of economic growth necessary to pay for world class health care