ACT saves taxpayer hundreds of millions on Waikato Medical School

“ACT’s commitment to delivering better healthcare outcomes while valuing taxpayers’ money has helped deliver a better outcome on the new Waikato Medical School,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“Initial estimates forecast that the taxpayer would need to stump up $280 million. Today’s announcement confirms they will only need to invest $82.5 million. This is down to Waikato University agreeing to contribute a higher proportion of the medical school’s costs. ACT’s rigorous questioning helped ensure a more efficient investment meaning Kiwis get better outcomes for less.

“Families across New Zealand are feeling the squeeze, from rising grocery bills to long waits to see a GP. We can address both issues, but it requires every taxpayer dollar to be spent wisely, especially when it comes to something as vital as healthcare.

“New Zealand has a critical shortage of doctors, especially in rural communities where people often wait weeks for appointments or drive hours just to see a GP. The Government has taken several steps to address this, such as reducing red tape for overseas doctors, simplifying prescription rules, expanding existing medical school placements, and encouraging graduates to stay in the country. But there’s still more that needs to be done.

“The idea of a new medical school at the University of Waikato was proposed to train more doctors with a focus on rural and regional health. ACT has always agreed with the desired outcome. Our role has been to ask the tough questions: was this the best use of taxpayer money to achieve the goal? Would it work, and could it be done for less?

“ACT insisted that a full cost-benefit analysis be done before signing off on such a large investment. We demanded better planning, transparency, and accountability. We raised concerns about the initial analysis failing to consider other options to address the issue.

“As a result, officials and Waikato University revised their assumptions, refined the proposal, and delivered a plan that achieves the goal of more doctors trained for rural communities at a significantly lower cost to taxpayers.

“ACT has always said we must save money where it counts so we can invest where it matters. This improved investment is a great example, with more money left in your back pocket and a solution found.”