$700 million urgently needed to boost public health system

New analysis by the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) shows the National Government needs to invest massively in the health sector in the upcoming Budget, just to maintain services at current levels, the Green Party said today.

The CTU and Association of Salaried Medical Specialists prepared a pre-Budget analysis showing that Vote Health’s operational expenses would need to rise by nearly $700 million to maintain the health services New Zealand currently has. Their analysis takes into account growing costs, and population pressures including the ageing population.

“This Government has failed to fund health properly, and there will be real-life consequences for all New Zealanders if National doesn’t stump up with a massive health investment on Thursday,” Green Party health spokesperson Kevin Hague said.

“This Government has continually put off making long-term investments in New Zealanders’ health, such as taking action on child poverty or obesity, and there will be delayed costs for these kinds of issues down the line.

“The Health Budget is under continuing and severe pressure. District Health Boards are having to perform miraculous feats to ensure that New Zealanders’ healthcare services are maintained, and key services such as mental health are falling through the cracks.

“Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are being forced to make do with less and less, all because this Government is determined to cut corners wherever it thinks it can get away with it.

“This Budget is the ideal time for the National Government to make a real, sustained investment in our public health system. The CTU’s analysis shows that anything less is going to have dire consequences for all of us who rely on the public health system,” said Mr Hague.

Volunteer

The Greens are proud to be driven by passionate people like you. Today we need your help to take action on the biggest issues facing New Zealand.

Action

Save Auckland's Climate Budget

Sign the petition to stop Mayor Wayne Brown's proposal for dangerous cuts to climate and environmental programmes that protect us from extreme weat...

Action

No New Mines 2023

Action

Expand Voting

Now more than ever, young people in Aotearoa are impacted by Government decisions, and they deserve to have a say. We are calling on all Members of...

Action

End Intensive Winter Grazing

Sign the petition to Labour Ministers, to move faster in bringing regulations into force and end intensive winter grazing.

Action

Trains for Climate

Add your name to our open letter urging the Minister for Finance Grant Robertson to save our passenger trains between Wellington, the Wairarapa and...

Action

Healthy Oceans 2022

Join our Healthy Oceans Crew to help us keep the health and protection of our oceans high on the Labour Government’s political agenda.

Action

It's time: A Ministry for Rainbow Communities

Join our call asking the Prime Minister to establish a Ministry for Rainbow Communities that can champion Rainbow issues.

Action

No new mines on conservation land

Sign the open letter asking Labour Ministers to stick to their promise of banning new mining projects on conservation land.

Action

Allow community ownership of our buses

Public transport is an essential service and helps to tackle the climate crisis by reducing our carbon emissions. But there are barriers to communi...

Action

Local Events

We have activists across Aotearoa / New Zealand who are working hard to build a brighter future for our kids and grandkids. This page lists upcomin...

Latest Health Announcements

Story

Free prescriptions important step forward

The Green Party is today welcoming free prescriptions.

Greens welcome life-saving treatments for rare disorders

The Green Party welcomes the news that Pharmac will fully fund Spinraza for people under the age of 18.

Monkeypox elimination plan is essential

The Green Party is calling on the Government to listen to public health experts and commit to an elimination strategy for monkeypox.

Migrant healthcare workers need fair pay as well as residency

Migrant nurses, aged-care and support workers need fair pay as well as equitable pathways to residency, not half-baked measures from National.

Nurses could face pay cut under National

A National Government would leave nurses behind, the Green Party says.

Budget 2022: Greens MP Dr Elizabeth Kerekere says wins for health not enough for Māori or Rainbow

Today Greens Te Mātāwaka Chair and Health Spokesperson, Dr Elizabeth Kerekere, said “The Greens have long campaigned for an independent Māori Healt...