Health
A reduction in tax paid, equivalent to what the government currently spends on people’s healthcare, will be provided via the tax free income threshold. Tax reductions will be inflation proofed Families and individuals will use the extra money from the tax reduction direct with the supplier or any approved healthcare insurer they wish to for catastrophic cover The Healthcare Authority would establish guidelines of standards that hospitals would be expected to reach Hospitals compete in the business of delivering high quality healthcare at competitive prices Doctors help patients make informed decisions (rather than serve the government)
Health care and healing should be holistic and integrated Health promotion and prevention of illness and injury are priorities for health investment. The health care system must be publicly funded to ensure everyone can access healthcare services, regardless of their ability to pay Support programmes which improve the reproductive and sexual health of all people
Labour will progressively increase the number of training places at New Zealand medical schools, with an extra 50 places in 2010 and a further 50 places in 2011. Labour will establish a comprehensive central system for national workforce supply and demand planning within the Ministry of Health Labour will target reduced waiting times for elective surgery in priority areas, such as cardiac, cancer and orthopaedic services Labour will continue to work towards reducing the cost of GP visits for younger and older New Zealanders so that young people get medical advice early and so that older people can lead active, healthy lives. Labour will promote a DHB-salaried General Practitioner option as one way of better integrating primary health care
Encourage GPs with special skills to provide a wider range of minor surgery in their clinics andimprove direct referral to some diagnostic tests Make smarter use of private hospitals and primary care to support public hospital elective surgery and reduce waiting times Fully fund Plunketline to provide a 24-hour service Invest in 20 new dedicated elective surgery theatres to provide better, sooner, more convenient access to elective surgery in the future
Commit to incrementally raising spending on health to reach our target goal of 10 percent of GDP Explore options associated with boosting uptake of private health insurance, including tax rebates Review the number of DHBs to ensure they are appropriate for the demographic demands of health and delivery of services Extend free doctors visits and prescriptions to include all primary school-aged children
Commit to the public health model so that it continues to assume the key role in the provision of vital health services Give every New Zealander the chance to get a free standard "Warrant of Fitness" health check-up once a year Support effectively targeted cervical, breast, and skin cancer screening programmes, and a new prostate cancer screening programme Treat child obesity as a parenting issue and use parent education as the first line of attack to reduce obesity rate
