Chance for free under-18 GP visits

By FRANCESCA MOLD political reporter

All New Zealanders under the age of 18 would get free visits to their GP under a scheme being pushed by the the Government's junior coalition partner.

Alliance leader and Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton told the Weekend Herald yesterday that the proposal would extend the existing free health care policy for children aged under 6 to all those of school age - believed to total around one million New Zealanders.

It would cost an estimated $35 million a year on top of the $69 million for the under-6s scheme.

The amount is regarded as small enough to give the scheme a real chance of being accepted by Labour.

The figure of $35 million was calculated by taking the number of teenagers now visiting the doctor and making allowances for an expected increase once visits were free.

The decision to pursue the policy is a clear bid by the Alliance to lift its profile and standing in the polls.

"Every young person would be able to access the free care whether rich or poor. There will be no bureaucratic tangle of trying to prove you are eligible," said Mr Anderton.

The project will not be included in next month's Budget, but its promoters hope it can be introduced before the next election, depending on support from the Labour Party.

Mr Anderton said preliminary talks had already been held with Labour.

Prime Minister Helen Clark was in Japan last night and could not be contacted for comment.

Health Minister Annette King was holidaying in Australia and referred comment to her associate minister, Tariana Turia.

A spokesman for Mrs Turia said she knew nothing about the Alliance proposal.

Last year, Mrs King indicated that the Government wanted to move towards fully funding GP visits for everyone but was uncertain when it could afford this.

At the time, Professor Gregor Coster of the Auckland University School of Medicine said that to lift the flat rate the Government pays doctors from around 35 per cent of the average fee to 85 per cent, an extra $350 million would be needed on top of the $276 million already spent on primary care.

New Zealand Medical Association chairman Dr John Adams said yesterday that doctors would support any move to increase patient subsidies, but would need to see the Alliance policy before committing.

The floating of the major new health initiative, designed to appeal to voters across the board, demonstrates the Alliance's desire to boost its sagging support in recent polls. Mr Anderton said polls showed the Alliance had significant support as a second-choice party.

"New Zealanders like the Alliance but are not inclined to vote for us straight up. We've got to turn some of that goodwill into party votes."

In political poll results issued last week, the Alliance was down 0.8 and 1 point respectively, with party support hovering around 3 to 4 per cent.

To capture more votes in the run-up to the next election, the Alliance must raise its profile with a number of icon policies and prove to voters that it has the ability to push through key promises. It must also differentiate itself from its senior coalition partner, Labour.

The Alliance achieved this by successfully obtaining Labour's support for the People's Bank, which was not an issue on its partner's agenda.

But the success of the banking venture will not be known until after the election.

Other achievements the Alliance has had a hand in include creating the positions of Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Industry and Regional Development, which Mr Anderton said had contributed to the lowest rates of unemployment in 12 years.

The party has also supported the introduction of income-related rents for state housing tenants and lifting the minimum wage.

Mr Anderton said the Alliance had contributed to a stable and secure Government, but that had not been recognised by voters in terms of party support.

He said there were two ways to change that. "One is demanding recognition like a spoiled toddler. The other way is to show people in as constructive way as you can what it is you are achieving."