Alliance plans levy to support healthcare

The Alliance is proposing a healthcare levy on all taxpayers, mainly to finance free doctor visits and prescriptions.

Party leader Laila Harre said the 1 per cent levy would raise $840 million and would work in a way similar to Britain's National Health Service.

A spokeswoman for Ms Harre said the levy would be on top of income tax payments and was linked with the party's tax policy.

The Alliance proposes significant tax cuts for people earning under $40,000 a year.

"With the exception of the United States, New Zealand is unique among comparable countries in having significant financial barriers to primary healthcare," Ms Harre said when she launched the health policy.

"There is no doubt that many New Zealanders are not going to the doctor or taking their children to the doctor when they need to because the price is just too high."

She said hospitals were overburdened, Third World diseases were showing up in poor communities and nearly one-third of hospital admissions could be avoided by an early visit to a doctor.

- NZPA

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